A proteoliposome, which is obtained by removing a surfactant from a mixed solution including lipid, membrane proteins and the surfactant, wherein the content of the surfactant in the mixed solution is equal to or more than 1.5 times of the sum of a maximum amount of the surfactant associating with the lipid and a maximum amount of the surfactant associating with the membrane protein. A biochip wherein the above-described proteoliposome is spread on a substrate. A method for producing a proteoliposome by removing a surfactant from a mixed solution including lipid, membrane proteins and the surfactant, wherein the content of the surfactant in the mixed solution is made equal to or more than the sum of a maximum amount of the surfactant associating with the lipid and a maximum amount of the surfactant associating with the membrane protein.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a proteoliposome, a production method thereof, and a biochip.
Description of the Related Art
The post-genome era has come, and research and development in which proteins purified from a living body are used for various purposes have been actively carried out. Among them, membrane proteins have attracted attention as a new target of drug discovery.
A receptor protein which is a membrane protein exists in a biological membrane, plays an important role in intravital signal transduction, and its impairment of function is largely concerned with diseases. In recent years, approximately 50% of existing drugs and approximately 70% of drugs under research and development are said to target the membrane protein.
In addition, research in a new field called nanomedicine wherein molecules are used in a nanometer range under controlled activity for drug discovery, as typified by a drug delivery system (DDS), has appeared as well, and there is a case where it is actually used for a medical treatment in the United States.
More specifically, a nanometer-sized liposome is formed from a lipid bilayer membrane (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a "lipid membrane"), a receptor protein is embedded in the surface of the liposome, and a drug is encapsulated therein. Consequently, a localized delivery by a molecule identification ability of the receptor protein can be realized. The drug in the proteoliposome (liposome in which membrane proteins are embedded) can be selectively administered to a target cell. This technique is expected to be applied not only to a treatment for lungs, eyes or skin, but also to a treatment for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, or cardiovascular diseases.
For a quick diagnosis or in drug discovery, a biochip is used in which proteins or antibodies are immobilized on a substrate to observe the response by various methods such as a surface plasmon resonance method (SPR method). However, since detection/observation of conformational change in the protein is performed by holding proteins having activity with a number of molecules on a substrate, followed by detecting an average conformational change in proteins therein, it has been difficult to precisely examine the connection between the structure/conformational change of a single protein molecule and its function.
Furthermore, exploring the connection between the structure/conformational change and the function has been carried out by observing the structure and conformational change of a single protein molecule. For example, Nakagawa et al. have observed the structural differences of membrane proteins before and after stimulation by using an electron microscope. However, this method is an observation method carried out by scattering of a number of proteins on a substrate, and thus it is difficult to determine the orientation of the protein under observation. Therefore, it has been necessary to observe dozens of or tens of thousands of protein molecules and carry out image processing in order to know the orientation of the protein by analogy and determine the structure of the protein molecule. In addition, since proteins are frozen according to the method, it has not been possible to make an observation of proteins retaining their activity.
An atomic force microscope (AFM) is capable of observing a nanometer-sized object in a solution, and accordingly a protein retaining activity can be observed, one molecule at a time. Consequently, if a condition wherein membrane proteins are reconstituted in a lipid membrane is created so as to mimic that in vivo, it is believed that detailed knowledge related to the function of membrane proteins in an organism can be obtained by a single-molecule observation by AFM.
When a part of protein is immobilized on a substrate or a protein interacts with a substrate, it is thought that the protein does not change in the same manner as in vivo. In particular, since membrane proteins exhibit a function only in a state of being in a biological membrane, it is necessary to observe membrane proteins that being constituted in a lipid bilayer membrane mimicking an organism, so as to examine closely the connection between the structure and function.
As mentioned above, it is very important to reconstitute membrane proteins in a lipid membrane, particularly in the pharmacological or industrial application of membrane proteins.
Reconstitution of membrane proteins to a lipid membrane is carried out mainly for purposes such as (1) DDS using proteoliposomes, (2) two-dimensional crystallization of membrane proteins for X-ray structure analysis and (3) channel activity measurement by an electrophysiological method.
In (1), as many membrane proteins as possible are embedded in a liposome because it is believed that the greater the number of membrane proteins, the better the drug effect. However, even if a large number of membrane proteins are embedded in a liposome, they aggregate in a proteoliposome, and as a result, the number of membrane proteins which can fulfill the function effectively was considered to be small.
Also in (2), a large number of membrane proteins are embedded in a lipid membrane in a state where the proteins are aligned while being in contact with each other, so as to give a crystalline structure. Also in (3), the aggregation has not been a matter as long as there are membrane proteins having activity. That is, examination on reconstituting membrane proteins by dispersing at a predetermined interval without causing aggregation has not been practically carried out. Therefore, a biochip which is suitable for use in observation of a single membrane-protein molecule or the like has been demanded.
For a structural observation at the single molecular level, membrane proteins need to be oriented in the same orientation for reconstitution, in addition to their needing to be distanced at a predetermined interval without each being aggregated with the others. In addition, upon the spreading on a substrate, membrane proteins need to be placed at the center of a lipid domain (region including a lipid membrane) in order to perform an accurate structural observation by making the effect from surrounding lipid molecules uniform.
For all of those reasons, it is desirable to control the aggregation of membrane proteins to be constituted in a proteoliposome, and to spread membrane proteins at a predetermined interval on a substrate of a biochip by controlling the aggregation. Moreover, it is desirable to control the aggregation to reconstitute membrane proteins, from the viewpoint of reducing the amount of membrane proteins to be used since they are generically difficult to obtain or a valuable resource.

Proteoliposome, production method thereof, and biochip

Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation


A nail painting marker is provided which includes a marker case housing a paint tube. The tube contains air brush marker paint which is applied using an applicator extending from the tube. The applicator has a tip for precise application of the paint to the nail. The tip is sealed with a removable cap when not in use. In the method of use, the nail is contacted directly with the tip of the marker so as to apply paint to the nail, without the need to reload the tip with paint, as with a brush. Multiple markers with different color paints can be used to apply multiple colors to each nail.

It has been a common practice for many years for individuals to color their nails. Today, this is primarily done through the application of nail enamels to the surface of the nail using an applicator brush. This method has several disadvantages, however. First, it is difficult to control the amount of enamel in the brush, plus the brush is difficult for many people to control, due to the softness and flexibility of the brush bristles. It is therefore difficult to accurately place the enamel on the nail, avoid getting enamel on the surrounding skin, and produce a coating that is free from brush marks, streaks, or blobs on the nail. This is especially true for individuals attempting to paint their toenails. This lack of precision generally makes this method of application time consuming, which is compounded if more than one coat of enamel is placed on the nails. Further, nail enamel normally takes a long time to dry, especially if it is accidentally "blobbed" on the nail which creates a thicker layer that takes much longer to dry.
The lack of precision of nail enamel brushes also makes it difficult for individuals to create designs or stencil their nails, a trend which has become very popular in the last few years.
Due to the above-mentioned difficulties, many people have resorted to having their nails professionally painted. Many individuals, however cannot afford the expense of professional manicures which can range from $10-$30 per visit. Further, these manicures must be performed as frequently as once per week to fix chips and the gradual wearing off of the enamel.
In recent years, salons have begun using acrylic paints to color nails which allow the manicurist to create designs which could not be previously achieved using brush applicators. Spray-on acrylic paints in an aerosol can permit the fading in and out of colors, an effect which had only been achieved using air brushes. One disadvantage with aerosol acrylic paints, however, is that they are often too difficult for persons other than professional manicurists to apply and create the desired artistic effect.
Another nail coloring method uses an air brush and compressor to apply the paint to the surface of the nails. Air brush painting is widely used in various applications from T-shirts, to touching up photographs, to the creation of original works or art and, as previously mentioned, in nail painting. The air brush is a type of miniature spray gun which atomizes the liquid desired to be painted into droplets, and allows the spray application of the atomized droplets onto a substrate. Air brushes can be used to apply most liquid media, including watercolors, acrylic paints, oil paints, and inks. Alternatively, stencils may be used to limit the sprayed paint to a desired area and/or design.
Air brushes have several advantages over conventional brushes. Air brushes are much faster and more precise than brushes and do not have to be repeatedly reloaded with paint. However, air brushes do not allow for detailed work since the paint which is deposited as a spray is in droplets. Thus, the edges of the sprayed area are "fuzzy" due to the spray pattern. In addition, special care must be taken when using an air brush to prevent the paint from being deposited inadvertently on areas not intended to be painted. Hence, to obtain fine details in air brush painting, it is often necessary for the user to "finish" the design using artist brushes, pens, and pencils.
The air brush nail painting method is costly and also difficult for untrained individuals to use on their nails since not only do individuals need to be trained on how to create certain artistic effects, but they must also learn how to use an air brush. In addition, the initial costs of this procedure does not make it feasible for individual use at home since it involves the purchase of all of the necessary air brushing equipment, as well as different colors of air brush paint. Furthermore, due to the necessity of thoroughly cleaning the air brush in between paint colors, the air brush method is also very inefficient and time consuming.
In an attempt to more precisely apply color to their nails, individuals have been known to draw on their nails with pens or felt tip markers. While this method allows for better precision of application of color to the nail, it also has many drawbacks. First, the ink in ballpoint pens or felt tip markers does not adhere well to fingernails and the ink therefore either does not apply to the nail at all or else it smears and rubs off. The inks are also toxic in some cases.
There is therefore a need in the art for an inexpensive method of painting finger and toe nails wherein the color is easily applied, is nontoxic, dries quickly, adheres well to the nail, and is precise so as to allow individuals to create unique patterns and designs on their nails which cannot be achieved using a brush applicator.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for painting nails which allows for easy application, thus allowing it to be used not only by professional manicurists, but by individuals at home.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for painting nails which provides for accurate and precise application of one or more colors to each nail.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for painting nails which includes a paint that bonds to the nail and which dries relatively quickly.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for painting nails which is quick, easy, inexpensive, and requires little, if any, training.
These and other objects of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of the invention.

Method for painting nails with acrylic air brush paint


The present invention provides an apparatus that is useful in obtaining blood flow information. The device includes a carrier that, in preferred embodiments of the invention, includes either a catheter or guide wire. The device further includes at least one transducer that is capable of generating and/or receiving an ultrasonic signal that departs or is received, respectively, by the transducer at an angle to the surface of the transducer that is exposed to the blood flow. One embodiment of the apparatus employs a transducer that is capable of generating a surface acoustic wave (SAW) that, upon contact with blood, is converted into a "leaky" wave. Another embodiment of the device employs a transducer that utilizes the grating lobe effect to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic signals at an angle to the surface of the transducer that is exposed to the blood flow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatuses that are adapted for use in determining information relating to the flow of blood within a blood vessel, such as blood velocity information and information reflected from the wall of the blood vessel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vascular disease and, in particular, cardiovascular disease is a major health care problem in the United States that results in over one million deaths per year. Over the last two decades a tremendous amount of research has been conducted on vascular diseases in an effort to identify the causes of such diseases as well as to diagnose and treat such diseases.
Characteristic of many apparatuses used in the diagnosis of vascular diseases and/or in guiding various therapeutic devices used for the treatment of vascular diseases is the use of an ultrasonic device. The ultrasonic device is typically attached to a guide wire or catheter that allows the ultrasonic device to be placed inside a blood vessel or attached to an endoscope, for example, that permits the ultrasonic device to be positioned in a cavity adjacent to the blood vessel of interest. When the apparatus is in operation, the ultrasonic device either generates an ultrasonic signal that interacts with the blood or blood vessel, or receives an ultrasonic signal after it has interacted with the blood or blood vessel and, as a consequence, now possesses information relating to the blood or blood vessel. Among the information that the ultrasonic device can be used to obtain are information on the vessel lumen or wall as well as hemodynamic measurements, such as blood velocity. To obtain blood velocity information and other related information, the ultrasonic device must be capable of generating or receiving an ultrasonic signal where at least one component of a vector representative of the direction of propagation of the ultrasonic signal is substantially parallel to the direction in which the blood is flowing. The vector representative of the direction of propagation of a plane ultrasonic wave that is generated or received by the ultrasonic device is a vector that is substantially perpendicular to the wave fronts of the plane ultrasonic wave. For non-planar ultrasonic waves that are generated by the ultrasonic device, such as concentric waves, the vector representative of the direction of propagation of the non-planar ultrasonic wave is a vector that is substantially perpendicular to the wave fronts as well as substantially centered in the angular extent over which the wave propagates or indicative of the direction in which the greatest signal strength lies. The vector representative of the direction of propagation of a non-planar ultrasonic wave that is received by the ultrasonic device is a vector that is substantially perpendicular to the wave fronts. Hereinafter, the vector representative of the direction of propagation of an ultrasonic signal will be referred to as the directional vector.
One known apparatus that has been proposed for transmitting or receiving an ultrasonic signal where at least one component of its directional vector is substantially parallel to the direction of blood flow includes a guide wire or catheter with a piezoelectric transducer positioned on the tip of the guide wire or catheter such that the area vector of the transducer, a vector that is perpendicular to the surface of the transducer from which an ultrasonic wave emanates or upon which an ultrasonic wave impinges, is substantially parallel to the direction of blood flow when the apparatus is in use. In operation, the piezoelectric transducer transmits or receives ultrasonic signals having directional vectors that are substantially parallel to the area vector of the transducer and, as a consequence, substantially parallel to the direction of blood flow. An example of such an apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,967, which issued on May 1, 1990, to Cottonaro et al., and is entitled "Doppler Tip Wire Guide". Under ideal conditions, the apparatus is inserted into a blood vessel and the piezoelectric transducer is pulsed to produce an ultrasonic signal having a directional vector that is substantially parallel to the area vector of the piezoelectric transducer and, as a consequence, the direction of blood flow. The blood reflects the ultrasonic signal and in so doing Doppler shifts the frequency of the ultrasonic signal by an amount that is indicative of the velocity at which the blood is flowing. The portion of the reflected signal that has a directional vector that is substantially parallel to the area vector of the transducer is then detected by the piezoelectric transducer and converted into an electrical signal that can be processed to determine the blood velocity. There are several drawbacks associated with this apparatus. Namely, the tip of the catheter or guide wire and the piezoelectric transducer in many instances tend to rest against the wall of the blood vessel. As a consequence, the ultrasonic signal transmitted or received by the piezoelectric transducer is corrupted by the vessel wall and therefore does not result in a very reliable indication of the blood flow velocity or related parameter. Moreover, in order to produce an ultrasonic signal having sufficient power to obtain reliable blood flow information, the frontal surface area of the piezoelectric transducer must be relatively large. This large surface area, however, inhibits the placement of the piezoelectric transducer in small diameter vessels, some of which, and especially in the case of the myocardium, are quite important.
Another known apparatus that has been proposed for transmitting or receiving ultrasonic signals having directional vectors with a component parallel to the direction in which the blood is flowing includes a catheter or guide wire with a piezoelectric transducer located on the side of the catheter or guide wire and at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the catheter or guide wire. An example of such an apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,185 ('185), which issued on Sept. 13, 1988, to Silverstein et al., and is entitled "Method and Apparatus for Endoscopic Blood Flow Detection By The Use of Ultrasonic Energy." Another example of such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,852 ('852), which issued on Aug. 14, 1990, to Nassi et al., is entitled "Apparatus and Method for Continuously Measuring Volumetric Blood Flow Using Multiple Transducers and Catheter for Use Therewith". The piezoelectric transducer can be planar, as shown in FIG. 3 of the '852 patent, or frusto-conical, as shown in FIG. 14 of the '185 patent. In either case, when the apparatus is in use, the piezoelectric transducer generates or receives ultrasonic signals having directional vectors that are substantially parallel to the area vector of the piezoelectric transducer. Since the transducer is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter or guide wire and the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the direction of blood flow when the apparatus is in use, the directional vector of the ultrasonic signals generated by the piezoelectric transducer are at an angle to the direction of blood flow. Similarly, the directional vector of the ultrasonic signals that the piezoelectric transducer can receive are at angle to the direction of blood flow. Since the directional vectors of the transmitted or received ultrasonic signals are at an angle to the direction of blood flow, a component of the directional vectors is also substantially parallel to the direction of blood flow and, as such, can be used to determine blood velocity and related information. This type of apparatus also has several drawbacks. Specifically, the overall diameter or thickness of the apparatus increases as the angle of the transducer with respect to the longitudinal axis of the guide wire or catheter increases. This, in turn, reduces the ability of the device to be placed in small diameter vessels, many of which, as previously mentioned, can be quite important. Moreover, placing the piezoelectric transducer at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the catheter or guide wire requires that an appropriately angled mounting surface be fabricated or in some other way machined on the catheter or guide wire. This, in turn, adds to the complexity and, in all likelihood, the cost of producing such an apparatus.
Yet another known apparatus that has been proposed for use in determining blood velocity and related information using an ultrasonic signal includes a catheter or guide wire with a piezoelectric transducer located on the side of the catheter or guide wire with the area vector of the piezoelectric transducer oriented such that it is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter or guide wire. Positioned adjacent to the piezoelectric transducer is a reflector that reflects any ultrasonic signal produced by the piezoelectric transducer such that the directional vector of the reflected ultrasonic signal is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the catheter or guide wire, which is also at an angle to the direction of blood flow when the apparatus is in use. Conversely, the reflector reflects ultrasonic signals that impinge upon it at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, or at an angle the direction of blood flow when in use, so that the directional vector of the reflected ultrasonic signal impinges upon the piezoelectric transducer from a direction that is substantially parallel to the area vector of the piezoelectric transducer. Since the directional vectors of the ultrasonic signals that the reflector receives from the blood or reflects into the blood are at an angle to the direction of blood flow, there is a component of the ultrasonic signals that is substantially parallel to the direction of blood flow that can be used to determine blood velocity and related information. An example of such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,821, which issued on Jul. 19, 1988, to Snyder and is entitled "Omnidirectional Ultrasonic Probe". Due to the orientation of the piezoelectric transducers and reflective structures, this type of apparatus possesses a relatively large diameter that prevents this type of apparatus from being maneuvered into small diameter blood vessels. Moreover, the need to fabricate reflective surfaces and properly orient the piezoelectric transducer with respect to such surfaces makes this type of apparatus difficult to build and, as a consequence, more expensive.
Another known device that has been proposed for use in determining blood flow information using an ultrasonic signal is shown in FIG. 11 of the '852 patent. The device includes a catheter or guidewire with an ultrasonic transducer that, due to either its curved surface, narrow dimension, or its coupling with an acoustic lens is apparently capable of receiving ultrasonic signals having directional vectors that extend over a range of angles. The use of a transducer with a curved surface, another example of which is shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B of the '185 reference, is apparently capable of receiving ultrasonic signals having directional vectors that extend over a range of angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter or guidewire. This ability is apparently due to the curved surface having a plurality of surface area vectors that extend over the relevant range. Consequently, if the directional vector of an ultrasonic signal that impinges upon the transducer is substantially parallel with the surface area vector of the transducer at the point where it impinges upon the transducer, then the transducer will convert the ultrasonic signal into an electrical signal. This type of transducer is not sensitive to signals that impinge upon it at an angle to the surface area vector at the point of impact. A drawback associated with using a transducer with a curved surface is that the curved surface increases the overall diameter of the device in much the same manner as the devices that utilize a transducer set at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide wire or catheter. The relatively large diameter of such a device, as previously mentioned, is undesirable in many instances.
The narrow dimension transducer, at least functionally, also has a plurality of surface area vectors and, as a consequence, is apparently capable of receiving ultrasonic signals over a range of angles. However, such a transducer does not appear to be able to receive an ultrasonic signal that impinges upon it that has a directional vector that is at an angle to one of the plurality of surface area vectors. Such sensitivity is achieved by using a narrow dimension transducer with a plurality of surface area vectors going in different directions. Consequently, even though the transducer is of narrow dimension, it must be oriented to capture ultrasonic signals over the range of interest. This, in turn, results in the ultrasonic transducer contributing to the overall diameter of the device and thereby reducing the ability of the device to be used in small diameter blood vessels.
The apparent purpose of the acoustic lens is to bend or divert ultrasonic signals with directional vectors that impinge upon it over a range of angles with respect to the surface area vector of the ultrasonic transducer such that the directional vector of the ultrasonic signal when it departs the acoustic lens is substantially perpendicular to the surface area vector of the transducer. This, in turn, allows the transducer to detect the ultrasonic signal and convert the ultrasonic signal into an electrical signal. Moreover, the use of a lens, if placed on the side of a catheter or guide wire, increases the overall diameter of the device which, in turn, limits the diameter of blood vessels within which such a device can be positioned. In addition, the use of an acoustic lens, as with the devices that use a reflector, makes the device more difficult to build and, in all likelihood, more expensive.
The '852 patent also shows in FIG. 10 a pair of transducers that are used to measure the distance between the catheter and the wall of the blood vessel. The transducers used in the '852 patent appear to generate or receive ultrasonic waves that have directional vectors that are parallel to the surface area vector of the ultrasonic transducer. When a wave pattern is generated where the wave fronts are non-parallel, as in a wave pattern where the wave fronts are concentric, and form a fan-like pattern similar to lobe of the signal associated with an antenna, the directional vector is considered herein to be the vector that is substantially centered in the wave pattern. Consequently, the direction of wave propagation of the ultrasonic signal generated by the ultrasonic transducer T.sub.3 that is shown in FIG. 10 of the '852 patent is not believed to be indicative of the directional vector of the ultrasonic wave as defined herein, but merely to indicate that the transducer generates ultrasonic signals having non-parallel or concentric wave fronts that can be used to perform the required distance measurement. Similar statements can be made with respect to the ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic transducer T.sub.4. Consequently, the transducers T.sub.3 and T.sub.4 shown in the '852 reference are not believed to be capable of generating or receiving, respectively, ultrasonic signals with directional vectors that are at angles to the surface area vectors of the transducers T.sub.3 and T.sub.4, respectively.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an ultrasonic apparatus for obtaining hemodynamic information, such as blood flow velocity, that addresses the drawbacks associated with the presently known ultrasonic apparatuses for obtaining such information. More specifically, there is a need for a device for obtaining hemodynamic information that is capable of transmitting or receiving ultrasonic signals at an angle to the surface area vector of the ultrasonic transducer employed in the device. This, in turn, would allow a device having a relatively small thickness or diameter to be realized that would, in turn, allow the device to be placed in blood vessels or orifices adjacent to a blood vessel having correspondingly small diameters. In addition, there is a need for an ultrasonic apparatus for obtaining hemodynamic information that has a reduced number of components relative to many of the known apparatuses for obtaining hemodynamic information, and, as a consequence, is easier and less expensive to manufacture.

Ultrasonic apparatus for use in obtaining blood flow information


A device for analyzing sample solutions such as whole blood based on coagulation and agglutination which requires no external power source or moving parts to perform the analysis. Single disposable cartridges for performing blood typing assays can be constructed using this technology.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for analyzing samples in microfluidic cartridges, and, in particular, to a device for analyzing sample solutions such as whole blood based on coagulation and agglutination which requires no external power source or moving parts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microfluidic devices have recently become popular for performing analytical testing. Using tools developed by the semiconductor industry to miniaturize electronics, it has become possible to fabricate intricate fluid systems which can be inexpensively mass produced. Systems have been developed to perform a variety of analytical techniques for the acquisition of information for the medical field.
In microfluidic channels, fluids usually exhibit laminar behavior. U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,852, which patent is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, is an example of such a device. This patent teaches a microfluidic system for detecting the presence of analyte particles in a sample stream using a laminar flow channel having at least two input channels which provide an indicator stream and a sample stream, where the laminar flow channel has a depth sufficiently small to allow laminar flow of the streams and length sufficient to allow diffusion of particles of the analyte into the indicator stream to form a detection area, and having an outlet out of the channel to form a single mixed stream. This device, which is known as a T-Sensor, allows the movement of different fluidic layers next to each other within a channel without mixing other than by diffusion. A sample stream, such as whole blood, and a receptor stream, such as an indicator solution, and a reference stream, which is a known analyte standard, are introduced into a common microfluidic channel within the T-Sensor, and the streams flow next to each other until they exit the channel. Smaller particles, such as ions or small proteins, diffuse rapidly across the fluid boundaries, whereas larger molecules diffuse more slowly. Large particles, such as blood cells, show no significant diffusion within the time the two flow streams are in contact.
Two interface zones are formed within the microfluidic channel between the fluid layers. The ratio of a detectable property, such as fluorescence intensity, of the two interface zones is a function of the concentration of the analyte, and is largely free from cross-sensitivities to other sample components and instrument parameters.
Usually, microfluidic systems require some type of external fluidic driver to function, such as piezoelectric pumps, micro-syringe pumps, electroosmotic pumps, and the like. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/415,404, which application is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is hereby incorporated by reference, microfluidic systems are described which are totally driven by inherently available internal forces such as gravity, capillary action, absorption by porous material, chemically induced pressures or vacuums, or by vacuum or pressure generated by simple manual action upon a power source located within the cartridge. Such devices are extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture and do not require electricity or any other external power source for operation. Such devices can be manufactured entirely out of a simple material such as plastic, using standard processes like injection molding or laminations. In addition, microfluidic devices of this type are very simple to operate.
microfluidic devices of this type described can be used to qualitatively or semi-quantitatively determine analyte concentrations, to separate components from particulate-laden samples such as whole blood, or to manufacture small quantities of chemicals.
A practical use of these microfluidic devices could be in the determination of several parameters directly in whole blood. A color change in the diffusion zone of a T-Sensor detection channel can provide qualitative information about the presence of the analyte. This method can be made semi-quantitative by providing a comparator color chart with which to compare the color of the diffusion zone, similar to using a paper test strip, but with greate control and reproducibility.
It would be desirable, in many situations, to produce a device for analyzing samples in microfluidic channels based on coagulation or agglutination as a function of contact between sample analyte particles and reagent particles. An example of such an assay would be the determination of a person""s blood group by bringing a drop of blood into contact with one or more antisera on a disposable microfluidic cartridge, and visually observing the flow behavior of these two solutions as they flow adjacent to each other, or mixed through sedimentation as they flow with each other through microfluidic channels. If a reaction occurs, the flow will either slow down, stop, or show another observable change that can be attributed to coagulation or agglutination.
The accuracy of the device can be enhanced by the addition of a readout system which may consist of an absorbance, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, light scatter, or turbidity detector placed such that the detector can observe an optically observable change caused by the presence or absence of a sample analyte or particle in the detection channel. Alternatively, electrodes can be placed within the device to observe electrochemically observable changes caused by the presence or absence of a sample analyte or particle within the detection channel.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microfluidic device which is capable of performing diagnostic assays without the use of an external power source.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disposable cartridge for analyzing fluid samples which is inexpensive to produce and simple to operate.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a microfluidic analysis cartridge in which a visual analysis can be made of the sample reaction.
These and other objects are accomplished in the present invention by a simple cartridge device containing microfluidic channels which perform a variety of analytical techniques based on coagulation or agglutination without the use of external driving forces applied to the cartridge. Single disposable cartridges for performing blood typing assays can be constructed using this technology.


A resist composition for electron beam or extreme ultraviolet (EUV), comprising a resin component (A) which exhibits changed alkali solubility under action of acid, and a photoacid generator component (B) that generates acid on exposure,                wherein the component (B) comprises at least one onium salt selected from the group consisting of onium salts having an anion represented by formula (b-0-1) or (b-0-2) shown below:

In recent years, in the production of semiconductor elements and liquid crystal display elements, advances in lithography techniques have led to rapid progress in the field of miniaturization.
Typically, these miniaturization techniques involve shortening the wavelength of the exposure light source. Conventionally, ultraviolet radiation typified by g-line and i-line radiation has been used, but nowadays KrF excimer lasers and ArF excimer lasers are starting to be introduced in mass production of semiconductor devices. Moreover, recently, as a next generation technique for a lithography process using ArF excimer lasers (193 nm), lithography processes using EUV (extreme ultraviolet radiation; wavelength of approximately 13.5 nm) and electron beams have been proposed and researched (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3). Exposure with electron beam or EUV is generally conducted in a vacuum.
Further, in EUV lithography, due to a high degree of linearity of EUV, the exposure apparatus is generally constructed by employing a reflective optical system which uses a mirror such as a multilayer film mirror.
On the other hand, one example of a resist material which satisfies high resolution conditions required for reproducing patterns of minute dimensions is a chemically amplified resist, which includes a base material component with a film-forming capability, and an acid generator component that generates acid on exposure. Chemically amplified resists include negative compositions, which undergo a reduction in alkali solubility on exposure, and positive compositions, which display increased alkali solubility on exposure.
Presently, as a base component of a chemically amplified resist, a resin is used. For example, in a positive resist, a polyhydroxystyrene resin is used in which some of the hydroxyl groups are protected with acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting groups, or a (meth)acrylic resin is used in which some of the carboxyl groups are protected with acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting groups (for example, see Patent Documents 4 and 5).
In a process using electron beam or EUV, improvement of sensitivity is required from the viewpoint of throughput and the like.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-177537
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-140361
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-75998
Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 5-249682
Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent (Granted) Publication No. 2,881,969

Resist composition for electron beam or EUV (extreme ultraviolet) and method for forming resist pattern

Abstract: wherein X represents an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with a fluorine atom; and each of Y and Z independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 atoms, in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with a fluorine atom.


There is disclosed herein a method for forming a manifold for a heat exchanger. The method includes the steps of the forming a generally planar sheet of material into a generally cylindrical member having a seam along the longitudinal length thereof. The method further includes forming a plurality of tube receiving slots in the cylindrical member and applying a pressure against the seam so as to flatten the seam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to heat exchangers for automotive vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a manifold for an automotive heat exchanger.
2. Disclosure Information
A heat exchanger includes cylindrical manifolds (or headers) which introduce a cooling medium into the heat exchanger tubes and discharge it after it has circulated throughout the heat exchanger. Typically, the cylindrical manifolds are made by rolling a brazing sheet into a cylinder. The brazing sheet is made of a core sheet coated with a brazing substance on one or both surfaces. The manifold, the tubes and other components, such as fins, are brazed to one another by vacuum brazing or with the use of a brazing flux.
One method of making manifolds for heat exchangers includes the step of rolling the brazing sheet until both of its ends are abutted. The abutted ends are electronically welded to form a seamed pipe. A specific number of holes or slots are formed in the manifold for insertion of the tubes thereinto.
To make the holes, a punching pressure has been applied to the manifold, but under the pressure the manifolds are in danger of crushing or deforming because of the relatively weak welded seams. To avoid such problems, the holes or slots were made by a milling. The milling unavoidably produced flashes, so that the tramming of flash was required. This is a time- and a labor-consuming work. In order to keep the manifolds tough, the holes must be off the welded seam. This requires determining whether the spot to be punched for the hole is off the welded seam.
One method which overcame the problems associated with this process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,635. The '635 patent teaches a method of making a header pipe (manifold) which includes the steps of preparing a core brazing sheet with a brazing substance on at least one surface. The method further includes forming a bulged portion of a semi-circular cross-section in the central section of the brazing sheet, providing apertures in the bulged portion for insertion of the ends of the tubes, and rolling the brazing sheet into a cylinder with its opposite ends being butt joined to each other. The process of the '635 patent has the benefit that by forming the apertures in the bulged portion, the header pipe is not crushed during the assembly process. However, the process requires that after the apertures are formed in the bulge portion, the brazing sheet is rolled into a cylinder with its opposite ends being butt joined to each other. It has been found that this rolling process often does not create a good overlapped butt joint between the ends of the cylinder, resulting in a gap between the ends and leakage of the header pipe.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a process for making a manifold for a heat exchanger which overcomes the disadvantages associated with the prior art and which provides a leak-free seam therein.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing a heat exchanger manifold which produces a leak-free seam along the length of the manifold and which prevents crush or deformation during the aperture forming process.

Method of making a manifold for an automotive heat exchanger


Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method performed by a processing system of determining a present orientation of a display region presented at a first time on a display of a video viewer, predicting a future orientation of the display region occurring at a second time based on data collected, to obtain a predicted orientation of the display region to be presented at the second time on the display of the video viewer, identifying, based on the predicted orientation of the display region, a first group of tiles from a video frame of a panoramic video being displayed by the video viewer, wherein the first group of tiles covers the display region in the video frame at the predicted orientation, and a plurality of objects moving in the video frame from the first time to the second time, wherein each object of the plurality of objects is located in a separate spatial region of the video frame at the second time, wherein a second group of tiles collectively covers the separate spatial regions, wherein tiles in the first group of tiles and tiles in the second group of tiles are different, and facilitating wireless transmission of the first group of tiles and a second tile from the second group of tiles, for presentation at the video viewer at the second time. Other embodiments are disclosed.

360-degree video, also known as panoramic or immersive video, is a critical component in the Virtual Reality (VR) ecosystem. 360-degree videos provide users with a panoramic view that allows the viewer to freely control their viewing directions during video playback. Spherical videos are recorded by omnidirectional cameras or camera array systems (e.g., FACEBOOK® Surround 360). The camera array simultaneously records all 360 degrees of a scene that can be "wrapped" onto a 3D sphere, with the camera array at its center. Spherical videos provide users with panoramic views and create a unique viewing experience when used in combination with the 3D video technology. 360-degree videos are becoming increasingly popular on commercial video content platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Periscope. In a typical 360 video system, a user wearing a VR headset can freely change her viewing direction. Technically, the user is situated in the center of a virtual sphere, and the panoramic contents downloaded from video servers are projected onto the sphere (e.g., using equi-rectangular projection).
When watching a spherical video, a viewer at the spherical center can freely control her viewing direction, so each playback creates a unique experience. Normally, a player displays only a visible portion of a spherical video, known as a field of view (FoV). The user's viewport (visible area) is determined by her viewing direction (in latitude/longitude) and the FoV of the VR headset in real time. The FoV defines the extent of the observable area, which is usually a fixed parameter of a VR headset.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Optimizing 360-degree video streaming with video content analysis


A cold planer includes a frame and a cutting mechanism having a rotatable cutter configured to cut material of a substrate. An anti-slabbing mechanism is coupled to the frame and includes an upwardly oriented base plate, and a plurality of skids. The skids are arranged in a first subset and a second subset positioned upon opposite outboard sides of a forwardly projecting plow, and downwardly depend from a base plate of the anti-slabbing mechanism, for applying a slabbing opposition force to uncut material of the substrate.

Road planing is the practice of removing an upper layer of paving material from a traffic bearing substrate forming a road. Paving material used in road construction tends to deteriorate over time as a result of weathering, traffic wear, fatigue, biological processes and still other factors. It is common practice for new "lifts" of paving material to be paved upon older, worn layers. Eventually, however, it becomes impractical to build the road any higher, and some or all of the road needs to be rebuilt. Cold planers are commonly used to cut old paving material from the traffic bearing substrate to enable the placement of new paving material on top.
A typical cold planer is a self-propelled machine or attachment to a self-propelled machine that includes a cutting mechanism configured to remove paving material to some specified depth, rendering a more or less planar surface to serve as a grade upon which a new mat of paving material is to be placed. The process of cold planing tends to be fairly demanding, as substantial energy may be required to cut the relatively hard and dense substrate, then elevate the cut material to a conveyor for off-loading from the cold planer. It will thus be readily understood that the service environment of cold planers tends to be harsh, and the components of such machines subjected to quite demanding conditions.
Among other challenges, in certain instances the cutting mechanism of a cold planer may break off relatively large slabs of paving material which the conveyor and other sub-systems have difficulty in handling. U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,434 to Swisher, Jr. et al. is directed to a Roadway Breaker Plate For A Planar Apparatus, in which a drum type planer cutter removes a top portion of an existing roadway. The breaker plate appears to provide a counteracting shearing force on the top portion of the roadway at a predetermined distance from the planer cutter, to remove cuttings from the roadway of purportedly uniform size. The design proposed by Swisher, Jr. et al. may work well for certain cold planer designs, but there is always room for improvement and broadened applicability.


The present invention discloses a data transmission method and a data transmission apparatus. The method includes: sending, by a first computer, first data to a first image capture apparatus through an image output port of the first computer; receiving, by the first image capture apparatus, the first data; and sending, by the first image capture apparatus, the first data to a second computer; or processing, by the first image capture apparatus, the first data to generate second data, and sending, by the first image capture apparatus, the second data to a second computer; where the first image capture apparatus has an image input port, the image input port is connected to the image output port of the first computer, and the image output port of the first computer includes an output port of a display card of the first computer. The present invention can effectively reduce leakage of corporate data.

In current society, many companies and organizations have their own websites, used to publish information for customers and users to learn information about the companies and organizations. However, such websites may be subject to great security threats and easily attacked by hackers, providing opportunities for the hackers to access databases of corporate websites, and causing leakage of corporate data.

Data transmission method and data transmission apparatus


A sound dampening modification means for a musical drum comprising, in combination with a drumshell, a drumhead with a playing surface and a rim, and a drumhead fastening means with a bottom edge, an annular base, and a means joined integral with the annular base to mount the annular base upon the drumhead rim. The means to mount the annular base upon the drumhead rim is positioned so that it may be suspended above the playing surface and held there between the bottom edge of the drumhead fastening means and the drumhead rim. Also provided is a means to muffle drumhead sounds comprised of sound absorbing material positioned between the drumhead fastening means and the drumhead rim.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of musical instruments and, more particularly, to a drum dampening modification device which is removably mounted above or in conjunction with a drumhead.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices for use in dampening sounds produced by percussion instruments, particularly musical drums, are well known in the art. Examples include, by way of example only, plastic or rubber rings (e.g. a Mylar® disc) placed upon or beneath a drumhead and/or using a pillow or some type of cloth material placed inside the shell of a bass drum. The objective in all these cases is threefold. The first is to reduce the sound of the drum or dampen high frequencies, i.e., make it less noisy and obtrusive by employing some type of sound absorbing material. The second is to reduce drum overtones. And the third is to preserve the authentic or "full" drum sound while still altering the drums overtones.
One example of a device in the prior art that achieves all three objections, though by different means, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,323, which teaches the use of a device that acts as a support for some type of sound altering or muffling material, e.g. foam or some other suitable type of sound absorbing material, placed between the lower-positioned support device and the batter head in contact with the latter. When the drumhead is struck by a hard object, like a drumstick, the sound absorbing material acts to reduce the overall sound of the drum while at the same time eliminating much, if not most, of the overtones. However, the serious drawback with this device requires the removal of the drum counterhoop, which acts to hold the support device, the sound absorbing material and the drumhead in place, then the drumhead to enable the removal of the sound absorbing material underneath in order to replace it. To substitute one sound absorbing material with another to achieve different sound objectives always requires the removal of the drumhead. This is unduly burdensome and extremely time consuming.
Thus, until now, nothing in the prior art provides for an uncomplicated device or method for easily and quickly replacing or substituting sound absorbing or dampening materials, which modify the dampening of sounds and/or to control overtones of a musical drum, without the need to first remove the drumhead.


A light emitting diode lamp includes a lead terminal 2 formed with a cup 8 having a conical inner circumferential surface serving as a light reflective surface 8a, an LED chip 4 bonded to a bottom surface 8b of the cup with a die bonding material H, a molded portion 6 made of a transparent synthetic resin for packaging the cup of the lead terminal. The bottom surface 8b of the cup is formed with a recess 9 or a protrusion 19 to which the LED chip 4 is bonded with the die bonding material H, whereby the light conversion efficiency of the conical light reflective surface 8a is enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode lamp including a light emitting element packaged with a molded portion made of a transparent synthetic resin.
2. Description of the Related Arts
JP-A 1-152676 and JP-U 62-44530, for example, disclose a light emitting diode lamp of the type described above. Such a light emitting diode lamp generally includes a pair of lead terminals one of which has a front end formed with a cup in the form of an inverted truncated cone. The cup has a conical inner circumferential surface which is made a light reflective surface and a bottom surface on which an LED chip is bonded. The LED chip is connected to the other terminal by wire bonding using a thin metal wire. These elements are packaged by a molded portion made of a transparent synthetic resin and having a lens portion.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24 which shows the principal portion as enlarged, such a prior art light emitting diode lamp includes an LED chip 104 including an active light emitting layer 104a interposed between a lower layer 104b and an upper layer 104c. The LED chip 104 is bonded, with a die bonding material H, to a flat bottom surface 108b of a cup 108 formed as a recess at a front end of one lead terminal 102. The inner circumferential surface of the cup 108 is made a conical light reflective surface 108a, so that the light emitted from the light emitting layer 104a of the LED chip 104 is reflected upward in the figure by the conical light reflective surface 108a of the cup 108.
As shown in FIG. 25, conventionally, in bonding the LED chip 104, an appropriate amount of thermally meltable die bonding material H (i.e., a material that melts when heated and hardens when cooled) such as solder paste or a thermally hardenable die bonding material (i.e., a material that hardens when heated) is applied to the bottom surface 108b of the cup. Then, after the LED chip 104 is placed on the applied die bonding material H, the die bonding material is melted by heating and then hardened (or hardened by heating when a thermally hardenable die bonding material H is used).
However, since the bottom surface 108b of the cup 108 is a flat surface which is perpendicular to an axis 108c of the cup 108, the distance of the LED chip 104 from the bottom surface 108b varies depending on the amount of the die bonding material H applied to the bottom surface 108b. In other words, the height of the LED chip 104 varies along the axis 108c of the conical reflective surface 108a of the cup 108 depending on the applied amount of the die bonding material H. Therefore, the accuracy in positioning the LED chip 104 at a predetermined height position along the axis of the conical light reflective surface 108a of the cup 108 is low, which leads to a deterioration of conversion of light by the cup 108.
Further, when a large amount of die bonding material H is applied, the LED chip 104 placed thereon may be bonded while being inclined relative to the axis 108c of the cup 108. Also in such a case, the conversion of light by the cup is deteriorated.
In some cases, the light emitting layer 104a of the LED chip 104 is provided closer to the bottom surface (P layer) of the LED chip 104. Generally, in this type of LED chip, the light emitting layer 104a is positioned at a height of about 5 μm above the bottom surface of the LED chip 104.
When the LED chip 104 in which the light emitting layer 104a is arranged close to the bottom surface of the LED chip is placed on the thermally meltable die bonding material H applied to the bottom surface 108b of the cup 108 and heating is performed, the molten die bonding material H, if the amount is large, rises from the bottom surface (lower layer 104b) onto the side surface or is bulged to reach the upper layer 104c over the light emitting layer 104a and then hardens in such a state (See FIG. 24). In such a case, short circuiting between the lower layer 104c and the upper layer 104c may occur to cause a failure. Further, since the thermally meltable or thermally hardenable die bonding material H pushed out from under the bottom surface of the LED chip 104 and bulged to a position higher than the light emitting layer 104a is hardened without contacting the outer side surface of the LED chip 104, the light emitted from the light emitting layer 104a is blocked by the bulged die bonding material H. In this way, since the peripheral surface of the light emitting layer 104a is in such a covered state with the die bonding material H, the light cannot reach the conical light reflective surface 108a of the cup 108, whereby the light emission efficiency is considerably deteriorated.
When the thermally meltable die bonding material H applied to the bottom surface 108b in the cup 108 is melted by heating, the die bonding material flows along the flat bottom surface 108b of the cup 108 to spread onto all sides. Therefore, the LED chip 104 on the molten die bonding material H moves horizontally along the bottom surface 108b to be away from the axis 108c due to the spreading of the die bonding material H to all sides. Thus, when the die bonding material H is hardened, the LED chip is fixed to such a deviated position.
In this way, in bonding the LED chip 104 to the bottom surface 108b of the cup 108 in the prior art structure, the LED chip 104 deviates horizontally relative to the axis 108c of the cup 108 due to the spreading of the thermally meltable die bonding material H to all sides upon heating. Thus, it is difficult to accurately position the center of the LED chip 104 on the axis 108c of the cup 108 or the nearby position, so that the conversion of light by the cup is deteriorated.


A hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloy cylinder bore liner is produced by feeding the molten alloy into a metal mold having an inner shell sand cup, while rotating the mold at a speed in excess of 1,000 rpm, to cause the molten alloy to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force to form a cylindrical liner. On solidification of the alloy, discrete silicon particles are precipitated and the use of the sand shell increases the fluid life of the alloy to enable the lighter weight silicon particles to migrate inwardly under the centrifugal force of rotation, to produce a solidified liner having a greater volume fraction of silicon particles in the inner portion of the liner where greater wear resistance is desired.

It has long been recognized that the lighter weight and better heat transfer properties make aluminum alloys the logical choice as a material for internal combustion engine blocks and liners. However, most aluminum alloys lack wear resistance and it has been customary in the past to chromium-plate the cylinder bores in the engine block, or alternately, to apply cast iron liners to the cylinder bores. It is difficult to uniformly plate the cylinder bores and, as a result, plating is an expensive operation, and in the case of chromium plating, not environmentally friendly. The use of cast iron liners increases the overall cost of the engine block, as well as the weight of the engine.
Aluminum-silicon alloys containing less than about 11.6% by weight of silicon are referred to as hypoeutectic alloys, while alloys containing more than 11.6% silicon are referred to as hypereutectic alloys.
Hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloys have seen extensive use in the past. The unmodified alloys have a microstructure consisting of primary aluminum dendrites, with a eutectic composed of acicular silicon in an aluminum matrix. However, the hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloys lack wear resistance.
On the other hand, hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys, those containing more than about 11.6% silicon, contain primary silicon crystals which are precipitated as the alloy is cooled between the liquidus temperature and the eutectic temperature. Due to the large precipitated primary silicon crystals, these alloys have good wear resistant properties, and while alloys of this type have good fluidity, they have a relatively large or wide solidification range. The solidification range, which is a temperature range over which the alloy will solidify, is the range between the liquidus temperature and the invariant eutectic temperature. The wider the solidification range, the longer it will take for an alloy to solidify at a given rate of cooling. Thus, for casting purposes, a narrow solidification range is desired.
Typical wear resistant aluminum-silicon alloys are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,665 and 4,969,428. U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,665 describes a hypereutectic aluminum-silicon casting alloy having particular use in casting engine blocks for marine engines. The alloy of that patent is composed by weight of 16% to 19% silicon, 0.4% to 0.7% magnesium, less than 0.37% copper, and the balance aluminum. The alloy has a narrow solidification range providing the alloy with excellent castability, and as the copper content is maintained at a minimum, the alloy has improved resistance to salt water corrosion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,428 is directed to a hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloy containing in excess of 20% by weight of silicon, and having an improved distribution of primary silicon in the microstructure. Due to the high silicon content of the alloy, along with the uniform distribution of primary silicon in the microstructure, improved wear resistance is achieved.
It has been recognized that as the silicon content of hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys is increased, the volume fraction of primary silicon particles in the microstructure will correspondingly increase, and this microstructure change will be associated with an increase in wear resistance for the alloy. However, it has also been recognized that as the silicon content of the hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloy is increased, feeding problems, as well as floatation problems, can occur because the solidification range increases with an increased silicon content. As a result, the wear resistant properties achieved by an increased silicon content in hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys have been compromised, for the attainment of casting properties that allow sound castings to be produced.
Various casting techniques have been used in the past to cast alloys having a wide solidification range. One casting process, referred to as "squeeze" casting, applies pressure to the molten metal through use of a hydraulic ram, and acts to forge the "mushy" liquid and solid phases for casting soundness. However, the "squeeze" casting process is slow, and is restricted to simple shapes or configurations.
Another casting process utilized in the past for alloys having a relatively wide solidification range is centrifugal casting. Cast iron pipes and liners have been made in the past by centrifugal casting techniques, and the centrifugal casting process is capable of producing shrink-free iron pipe castings of high quality. Because the microstructure of cast iron consists of a continuous graphite phase intermingled within another continuous phase, i.e. the matrix ferrous phase, segregation of the graphite phase and the ferrous phase does not occur to any significant degree in the centrifugal casting process. As a result, centrifugal casting can produce sound iron castings by feeding the shrinkage without a modification of the distribution of the phase constituents.

Cylinder bore liner and method of making the same


A new automotive (speed control system) safety feature is disclosed. A vehicle with an engaged speed control could be dangerous to drive on a road surface that changes from dry, offering little rolling resistance, to a surface that offers increased resistance to tire rotation. Resistance to tire rotation by water or snow on a road surface will cause an engaged speed control system to try and maintain the set vehicle speed by accelerating the vehicle into the rolling resistance. A driver may lose control of the vehicle in this circumstance if the speed control cannot be disabled immediately. The new safety feature disclosed would automatically disable the vehicle speed control system when the vehicle decelerates due to significant water or snow accumulation on the road surface.

This invention relates to an automotive electronic speed control for vehicles (cruise control), and more specifically to a new safety disable or cut out switch for an automotive speed control system.
Present day automotive electronic speed control or cruise control systems can be manually switched on or off, or temporarily disabled and enabled by electromechanical switches located proximate the vehicle driver. As a necessary safety requirement, the vehicle cruise control is automatically disabled by depression of the vehicle brake pedal.
Also, vehicles equipped with traction control systems that limit wheel spin when the traction control system detects that one or more drive wheels are spinning, or detects loss of traction, will automatically disable the vehicle cruise control system when loss of traction is detected.
Various electronic speed control systems for motor vehicles utilize one or more detectable conditions to either prevent engagement of, or automatically disengage the speed control system. Some of the conditions monitored by a cruise control system and used as a basis for engagement or disengagement of the cruise control system are brake on, vehicle speed too low, park/neutral engaged (automatic transmission), clutch engaged (manual transmission), engine RPM too high, and the ratio of engine speed to vehicle speed out of an acceptable range.                In U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,231 issued Dec. 26, 1989 to Frantz; disclosure is made of a means to disable a speed control resume switch if it is found in an engage condition at the same time that normal speed control cut outs are in effect.        Takahashi, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,806 issued on May 11, 1999 discloses a vehicle speed control system that includes a sensing camera for measuring the distance and speed of a forward vehicle in front of a controlled vehicle, and means to automatically adjust the speed of the controlled vehicle to maintain a set following distance of the controlled vehicle behind the forward vehicle.        In U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,657 issued to Mann on Dec. 26, 2000 an imminent icing condition detector employing an infrared sensor that monitors a road surface condition from a motor vehicle is disclosed. When the sensor signals the likelihood of road icing conditions a control circuit initiates the dispensing of a de-icing, anti-icing or traction substance.        U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,082 issued Apr. 10, 2001 to Minowa, et al., discloses a means to control the speed and acceleration/deceleration of a controlled vehicle and to automatically change the speed or acceleration/deceleration of the controlled vehicle relative to a detected forward vehicle, and to include other road conditions such as road gradient in the speed or acceleration/deceleration calculations.        In U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,806 issued Aug. 28, 2001 to Smith, et al., a driver road hazard and warning system is disclosed that senses objects ahead of a vehicle, and intelligently determines if the presence of the object on or near the current path of the vehicle justifies alerting the vehicle driver. If the system determines a driver alert is required, the system directs light onto the object and is capable of maintaining light on the object even as both the vehicle and object move relative to each other.        In U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,944 issued Sep. 4, 2001, to Tange, et al., disclosure is made of an automatic automotive velocity control for a motor vehicle that will automatically disengage if the apparatus determines that the road surface has a low coefficient of friction. Also, if the driver requests to engage the automatic velocity control system and the system detects a low road surface coefficient of friction, a warning is issued to the driver and the driver must reinitiate the request to engage the velocity control system.        In U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,702 issued Feb. 26, 2002 to Tange, et al., disclosure is made of an apparatus for automatically controlling vehicular velocity so as to maintain an inter-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle, and an apparatus feature that releases the follow up run control system in a manner that allows the vehicle to transition from an automatically controlled speed to a manually controlled speed with no noticeable speed irregularities even on a road surface with a low frictional coefficient.None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe this instant invention as claimed.


An S-spring 14 is provided in a state of tension between a pair of seat back frames 10 constituting a vehicle seat 1. A support section 16a of a bracket 16 fixed to the seat back frame 10 supports a part of an end of the S-spring 14 from behind. The support section 16a is formed with a length equal to or greater than one pitch of the S-spring 14 in a no-load state and discontinuously supports center portions α of the S-spring 14. When a load equal to or greater than a predetermined level acts on the S-spring 14, the S-spring 14 is stretched to cause the center portions α to be dislocated from the support sections 16a, and as a result, the length of a deflectable portion of the S-spring 14 is changed.

Generally, a vehicle seat is configured such that plural S-springs are fixed to a seat back frame. The S-springs elastically support an occupant. Therefore, the vehicle seat supports the back (shoulder blade) and the lumbar vertebra region of the occupant with the S-springs.
As this kind of vehicle seat, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-253281 discloses a technology in which coupling members that couple S-springs with a seat back frame can be moved backward along slots formed in the seat back frame.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 07-291005 discloses a technology of using coupling members, which extend backward, as a coupling member that couples S-springs with a seat back frame.


Various methods and systems for detection of selected defects particularly in relatively noisy inspection data are provided. One method includes applying a spatial filter algorithm to raw inspection data acquired across an area on a substrate to determine a first portion of the raw inspection data that has a higher probability of being a selected type of defect than a second portion of the raw inspection data. The selected type of defect includes a non-point defect. The method also includes generating a raw two-dimensional map illustrating the first portion of the raw inspection data. In addition, the method includes searching the raw two-dimensional map for an event that has spatial characteristics that approximately match spatial characteristics of the selected type of defect. The method further includes determining if the event corresponds to a defect having the selected type.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for detection of defects particularly in relatively noisy inspection data Certain embodiments relate to a computer-implemented method for detecting one or more selected types of defects in relatively noisy inspection data based on spatial characteristics of the defects.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fabricating semiconductor devices such as logic and memory devices typically includes processing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer using a number of semiconductor fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. For example, lithography is a semiconductor fabrication process that involves transferring a pattern from a reticle to a resist arranged on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
As the dimensions of advanced semiconductor devices continue to shrink, the presence of defects in the semiconductor devices increasingly limits the successful fabrication, or yield, of the semiconductor devices. For example, a scratch formed on a wafer during chemical-mechanical polishing may cause an open circuit or a short circuit in, or complete failure of, one or more semiconductor devices formed in subsequent processing. Because fabrication of a semiconductor device includes many complex process steps, the adverse effects of defects on total yield may increase exponentially if a defect formed on a wafer in one manufacturing process step causes additional defects to be formed on the wafer in subsequent manufacturing process steps.
Accordingly, defect detection or "inspection" of semiconductor wafers is and will continue to be of significant importance in semiconductor development and manufacturing. Furthermore, the ability of inspection tools or systems to detect a range of defect types over a range of sensitivities will determine how well defects can be detected and, therefore, how well semiconductor fabrication processes can be monitored and controlled. Consequently, significant efforts have been and will continue to be made to increase the sensitivity of inspection systems by improving parameters of the systems such as resolution. There have also been significant efforts in improving the processing of inspection data to increase the accuracy with which defects can be detected.
However, most inspection data processing involves two steps: defect detection and then classification. For instance, on many commercially available inspection systems, defects are found by detecting point defects via signal thresholding on individual data points in simple one-dimensional scans. Individual point defects may then be displayed on a point defect map or organized into another format. The point defect map is then post-processed to recognize if several of the points fall roughly into a two-dimensional shape, at which point that collection of points is labeled or classified as a specific defect instead of as individual particle defects.
There are, however, several disadvantages to the above methods of inspection data processing for detecting the presence of particular types of defects. In particular, these methods can be relatively inaccurate when detecting defects in relatively noisy inspection data. For example, as described above, simple one-dimensional scans only generate raw signals at individual points on the substrate, and every encounter with a two-dimensional surface anomaly is treated as a disconnected collection of point defects. Therefore, signal thresholding yields a defect map determined solely by signal strength at the individual points. Consequently, portions of faint two-dimensional defects may be lost to background noise due to failure of some of its associated point defect signals to exceed the threshold. As a result, the above-described methods for detecting defects may be substantially inaccurate when detecting defects in noisy inspection data since many defects may not be detected at all. In addition, the above-described methods for detecting defects may be substantially inaccurate in detecting the types of defects that are present on a substrate since portions of defects may not be detected thereby increasing the probability of misclassification of defects.
Accordingly, it may be advantageous to develop methods and systems for detecting defects on a substrate that are substantially accurate for detecting a range of defect types having a range of sensitivities, particularly in relatively noisy inspection data.

Methods and systems for detection of selected defects particularly in relatively noisy inspection data


A crimped thermoplastic fiber for use in reinforcing concrete has a length in the range of 1/4 inch to 4 inches; an outer diameter in the range of 4 mils to 30 mils; a crimp frequency of 10-30 crimps per inch and an amplitude in the range of 1/2 mil-10 mils. The invention also includes a cylindrical bundle of the aforementioned fibers retained within an outer paper wrapper that dissolves and/or disintegrates within a concrete mixer in which the wrapped bundles are dispersed.

This invention relates generally to the field of reinforcing concrete and more specifically to the field of using thermoplastic fibers to provide the reinforcing function.
"Reinforcing" or "reinforce" as used in connection with the products of this invention refers to the function of inhibiting the formation of large cracks that, in turn, accelerate the deterioration of the concrete structure; not to the function of actually carrying the structural loads in the concrete as when a large amount of steel reinforcing bar is used.

Crimped thermoplastic fibers for reinforcing concrete