In one embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for recording audio is provided so that the recording can be authenticated. The system may be implemented as a central server that is accessed via one or more lines for audio communication, or as a stand-alone unit. The system operates by encrypting communicated data (e.g., audio signals), storing the encrypted information, and providing at least one user with a key that can be used to decrypt the stored information.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for recording audio information in an authenticatable, tamper-proof manner.
Traditionally, written documents have been used to provide permanent records of transactions and agreements. One example of this type of document is a contract for the sale of an item, which typically identifies the name of the parties, the date, the subject matter of the contract, and a price. The contract provides a permanent record that can be used at a later date to establish the terms of the agreement between the parties.
Oral contracts, on the other hand, do not provide a permanent record of the terms of the agreement. As a result, if a dispute arises over the terms of the agreement at a later date, it becomes difficult to prove exactly what the parties agreed to, or whether they made a binding contract at all. Because there is no permanent record, an unscrupulous party could be untruthful about the agreed-upon terms to escape his obligations. Even absent dishonesty, parties to an oral contract may have different recollections of exactly what they agreed to. Moreover, one of the persons who entered into the agreement may be permanently or temporarily unavailable. These problems tend to worsen as time passes.
Because of these problems, all states have statutes declaring that certain oral agreements are unenforceable, typically including the sale of land, and the sale of goods exceeding a certain value. If a trustworthy record of an oral agreement or transaction could be obtained, however, the problems of oral agreements could be overcome.
Existing methods of recording conversations, however, do not address these problems. For example, telephone answering machines, tape recorders, and handheld digital audio recording devices can be used to record a voice or a conversation. It is, however, relatively easy to delete or to alter the recorded audio information. In particular, readily available electronic devices can splice sections out of an audio conversation, and can even rearrange words to make it appear that a party said something that was never actually said. Moreover, there is no effective way for parties to sign an audio recording. As a result, it may be difficult to identify the parties that actually agreed to the terms contained in an audio conversation and intended to abide by such terms. Further, there is no way known to applicants to verify that an oral negotiation matured into an agreement.
In addition, existing telephone answering machines and tape recorders do not provide a reliable indication of when the conversation occurred. While some answering machines do record the time a call was received, this "time stamp" is extremely unreliable because a party could rerecord a new time over the time recorded by the answering machine. Alternatively, a party might either intentionally or accidentally set the date on an answering machine incorrectly. This would allow two corroborating parties to pretend that they made an agreement on a certain date, even though the agreement was not made until a later date. As a result, telephone answering machines and ordinary cassette recorders do not alleviate the problems of oral agreements described above.
STEN-TEL is an example of a system designed specifically for recording telephonic audio information. STEN-TEL is available from Sten-tel Inc. (having a place of business at 66 Long Wharf, Boston, Mass. 02110). To use STEN-TEL, a person places a telephone call to the STEN-TEL server, and the server digitally records the telephone call. After the digital recording is made, a transcriptionist accesses the recording and generates a typed record of the telephone call. The typed transcription is then uploaded to the server, where it is stored. Permanent storage of the digitally recorded audio conversation is optional. After the transcription is stored in the server, it can be downloaded to the users. Every transcription is assigned a unique identification number, and all status information is maintained in a centralized database.
The STEN-TEL system does not, however, overcome the drawbacks of existing telephone answering machines and audiocassette recorders. First, the ability to restrict access to files is limited or non-existent. Apparently any person who has the file identifier can access the stored information. Second, the information is vulnerable to tampering. Third, although STEN-TEL apparently stores the time of the call, time stamps are not embedded into the stored information. This makes STEN-TEL vulnerable to modifications of the stored date for a given conversation. Finally, digital signatures are not used to provide security and/or authenticate the parties.
One system that does incorporate certain security features is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,798 (Cox et al.), which describes a voice messaging system. In Cox's system, however, an encryption key is stored along with the encrypted message. Because a hacker could obtain access to the encrypted message by retrieving the encryption key, Cox's system is vulnerable to attack. In addition, Cox's system is intended for use with secure telephone devices (STD). Ordinary telephones cannot call into Cox's system to have an audio message recorded.
No existing audio recording system is known to applicants that facilitates the permanent recording of an audio conversation in an authenticatable form so that a user can simply place a telephone call to a central server and have the server encrypt the conversation and record the time of the conversation, all in a tamper-proof manner.

Method and apparatus for the secure storage of audio signals


Disclosed is a system for authoring metadata that describe multimedia contents. A storage device loads information on a currently edited metadata document so as to describe multimedia contents, and a metadata editor visualizes the loaded metadata document according to a predetermined method, and allows a user to edit the metadata document. A multimedia access reproducer accesses the input multimedia contents to reproduce corresponding multimedia contents, and an inter-media metadata interface links the multimedia access reproducer and the metadata editor to browse contents and effectively edit information relating to a specific interval of multimedia contents. A metadata output device outputs information on the loaded metadata document according to a predefined format.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for authoring multimedia contents description metadata. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for effectively authoring multimedia contents description metadata through visualization of the metadata and linkage with the multimedia contents.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Metadata for multimedia contents are used so as to manage, retrieve, and browse a huge amount of multimedia contents under the multimedia environments including digital broadcasting and the Internet.
However, since the conventional metadata authoring system does not aim at describing multimedia contents, the metadata authoring system does not consider linkage with the multimedia contents, and recent authoring development states in consideration of the linkage focus on the metadata components directly linked with contents according to a specific method.
Hence, the conventional metadata authoring system has difficulty in visualizing and editing the metadata that describe the whole multimedia contents.

System and method for authoring multimedia contents description metadata

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A gas sampling bag is capable of blowing out the gas uniformly into the bag main body, and filling the bag main body with gas in a securely mixed state. A gas sampling bag that is connected to a constant volume sampling passage, contains a pipe, on which a plurality of gas inlet/outlet holes are formed, in a bag main body, and allows the gas to flow into/out of the bag main body through the gas inlet/outlet holes. The opening of the plurality of gas inlet/outlet holes is formed in such a manner that the size is minimized while the pressure loss is suppressed so as not to increase as far as possible.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas sampling bag and, more particularly, to a gas sampling bag that is connected to a constant volume sampling passage, contains a pipe, on which a plurality of gas inlet/outlet holes are formed, in a bag main body, and allows gas to flow into/out of the bag main body through the gas inlet/outlet holes.
2. Background Art
One of the sampling methods of emission gas exhausted from an automobile engine or the like is, for example, the constant volume sampling (CVS) method. In this CVS method, the emission gas having transiently changing flow rate is diluted with the air, and the flow rate of the diluted gas is defined as known flow rate, and the weight of components is calculated by using the diluted gas component concentration and the known flow rate.
In one of the measuring techniques of gas concentration of the CVS method, the sampled diluted gas is put in a gas sampling bag, and the gas in this gas sampling bag is supplied into a gas analyzer.
FIG. 5 schematically shows a conventional example of this gas sampling bag. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 51 denotes a gas sampling bag, and reference numeral 52 denotes a bag main body stretchably formed by gluing, for example, fluoroplastic sheets. Reference numeral 53 is a pipe made of, for example, fluoroplastic material of a circular cross-section provided inside the bag main body 52, and it is formed like a shape of 8 in plan view. In the middle of the pipe 53, a gas junction 54 is formed as a junction to an external gas passage, and a plurality of gas inlet/outlet holes 55 of proper small diameter are formed at uniform intervals on the periphery of the overall length of the pipe 53.
In the gas sampling bag 51 having such a configuration, the gas junction 54 is connected to the constant volume sampling passage through a valve and, by opening the valve, the gas from the constant volume sampling passage is introduced into the pipe 53 through the gas junction 54 and flows into the bag main body 52 through the plurality of gas inlet/outlet holes 55. In the bag main body 52, the gas is mixed securely, and a gas of uniform concentration is prepared. The gas sampling bag 51 is connected to a gas supply path to a gas analyzer through a valve and, by opening the valve, the gas in the bag main body 52 flows into the gas junction 54 through the plurality of gas inlet/outlet holes 55 and pipe 53 and flows out in the gas supply direction.
In the conventional gas sampling bag 51, however, in order to decrease the pressure loss of the gas when passing the gas inlet/outlet holes 55 as much as possible, when the inner diameter of the pipe 53 is, for example, 6 mm, this pipe 53 has 52 gas inlet/outlet holes 55 each having an opening diameter of, for example, 3 mm. In the gas sampling bag 51 formed in this manner, if the concentration changes significantly in the constant volume sampling passage, gas mixing in the bag main body 52 is not always sufficient, and the gas concentration in the bag main body 52 is not always uniform.
To avoid uneven gas concentration in the bag main body 52 of the gas sampling bag 51, the gas filling rate in the bag main body 52 may be raised, the gas injection time in the bag main body 52 may be extended, or the gas flowing rate into the bag main body 52 may be increased. However, in the gas sampling bag 51 connected to the constant volume sampling passage, the overall capacity of the bag main body 52 is limited, and cannot be increased simply in relation to the test mode duration and injection flow rate.
Under such restrictions, the present inventors investigated and discovered as follows: in the conventional gas sampling bag 51, it was attempted to minimize pressure loss of gas when passing the gas inlet/outlet holes, and all gas flowing into the pipe 53 through the gas junction 54 does not flow into the bag main body 52 through all of gas inlet/outlet holes 55, but flows into the bag main body 52 through a limited number of gas inlet/outlet holes 55 in the vicinity of the gas junction 54; therefore, there is a high possibility in that the gas was not mixed sufficiently.


A stator core 35 includes a core back 352 of a substantially annular shape. At a radially outer end portion of the core back 352 four teeth 351 are arranged radially. At the teeth 351, a coil 371 is formed by winding a magnet wire 37 via an insulator 36. A first insulator 361 configuring a lower half of the insulator 36 includes a first core back insulating portion 3611, 1 first teeth insulating portion 3612, and a first cylindrical portion 3613. A hook portion 4 is formed at the first core back insulating portion 3611 at radially outer side, and between the teeth 351. The magnet wire 37 extracted from the coil 371 is hooked on the hook portion 4. The magnet wire 37 hooked on the hook portion 4 is lead the magnet wire 37 around the hook portion 4 as a base, and is soldered to a land 381 formed above a circuit board 38.

In recent years, due to improvement in performance of high performance electronic equipment, a heat generated by circuit components (for example, circuit component such as an MPU) installed in the electronic equipment is on a steady increase. Therefore, due to the increased heat of the circuit components, a temperature within a housing of the electronic component increases greatly. Thus, a cooling fan is used for cooling the inside of the housing of the electronic component and the circuit components.
A conventional cooling fan includes a rotor portion, an armature and a base portion. The rotor portion includes an annular rotor magnet, and an impeller arranged in a circumferential direction centering a central axis of the rotor portion. The armature is affixed to the base portion so as to radially oppose the rotor magnet. The armature includes a plurality of teeth each extending in a radial direction. A magnet wire is wound around each tooth via an insulator in order to form a coil around each tooth. When the magnet wire is wound around the teeth, a predetermined amount of tension is imparted on the magnet wire. In general, the coil has the magnet wire which is wound around the teeth wherein the magnet wire has a predetermined tension so as not to slack. The tension provided to the magnet wire becomes greater when a diameter of the magnet wire is greater. The magnet wire which forms the coil is electrically connected via a conductive pin to a circuit on which the circuit components are mounted in order to control a rotation of the rotor portion. The conductive pin is affixed to the insulator. The magnet wire which forms the coil is wound around the teeth, wound around the conductive pin without slack, and then is soldered to a circuit board. Since the conductive pin is soldered to the circuit board, the magnet wire and the circuit board are electrically connected to one another. A drive current is supplied from an external source to a control circuit, an electric current is conducted through the magnet wire wound around the teeth, and then, a magnetic field is generated at a radial gap between the teeth and the rotor magnet. As the magnetic field is generated, the teeth and the rotor magnet attract one another, and repel one another. Due to such interaction between the teeth and the rotor magnet as described above, a rotary torque centering about the central axis is generated in the rotor portion.
Due to the great deal of increase in the temperature within the electric component, there is a further demand for cooling within the electric component. Therefore, there is an increased demand for a cooling fan having a cooling characteristic superior to that of the conventional cooling fan. In general, in order to improve the cooling characteristic of the cooling fan, a flow quantity of the cooling fan needs to be improved so as to increase a volume of heated air exhausted from the housing of the electric component. In order to improve the flow quantity, an air flow which is generated when the impeller rotates needs to be increased, which consequently increases a work load of the impeller and therefore a current value of the electricity supplied to the cooling fan becomes high. When an electric current is conducted to the magnet wire wound around a stator core, an electric resistance of the magnet wire causes the increase in the temperature of the magnet wire. When the electric current conducted to the magnet wire is high, the increase in the temperature of the magnet wire is further increased.
Conventionally, when designing a motor of a high speed rotation, a magnet wire having a low electric resistance is used. That is, when designing a motor whose impeller, when being rotated, is expected to perform a great deal of work load (i.e., flow quantity of air flow generated in accordance with the rotation of the impeller), a magnet wire having a diameter greater than the conventional diameter is used. However, when the magnet wire having the greater diameter is wound around the teeth, tension imparted on magnet wire is conducted to the conductive pin, stressing the conductive pin excessively and increasing the possibility of slackening the conductive pin. When the conductive pin is not used (e.g., a land formed at the circuit wiring configuring the control circuit is used), the magnet wire forming the coil is directly soldered to the land. When the magnet wire is soldered to the land, it is preferable that the neither the magnet wire nor the coil is soldered without being slackened. In order to solder the magnet wire or the coil without having them slackened, the magnet wire and the coil need to be soldered while tension is applied thereto. However, the tension applied to the magnetic wire and the coil may be eased however slightly, and therefore, the magnetic wire and the coil are slackened. Therefore, it is a difficult task to solder the magnetic wire forming the coil without allowing the magnetic wire to be slackened. The slack formed on the magnetic wire is conducted, due to vibration of the motor, to the coil, and thereby forming a slack on the coil. Once a slack is formed on the coil, there is a possibility that the magnetic wire comes off the coil, comes into contact with a rotor arranged axially above the coil, and then is damaged.
In view of the above problem, a following configuration is disclosed according to a cooling fan shown in FIG. 1 of a Patent Document 1. An annular wire holder includes a hook portion which protrudes toward a central axis from a radially inner edge portion. A magnet wire is hooked on the hook portion of the wire holder. By virtue of such configuration, a coil wire will be handled with facility.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 3127916 (FIG. 1)


A drive amplifier system includes a drive control device, a power supply, and at least one drive amplifier. The power supply includes a power control circuit, a rectifier, and a current sensor. The power control circuit includes an over-current detection circuit, a controller, and a state comparator. The drive amplifier includes a control circuit, a state memory, and an inverting circuit. When a actual current provided for the at least one drive amplifier by the power supply is more than a reference voltage, the over-current detection circuit outputs an over-current detection signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a drive amplifier system and an over-current detection method for the system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A general drive amplifier system includes a plurality of drive amplifiers connected to a power supply to drive a plurality of corresponding motors. Each of the amplifiers has a predetermined over-current rating when it is manufactured. The over-current rating is the most current at which the drive amplifier can work normally. Generally, the drive amplifier system adds up the rated over-current values of all the amplifiers to obtain a reference current value, and compares the reference current value with the actual current provided by the power supply for the amplifiers. When the actual current is greater than the reference current value, the drive amplifier system outputs an over-current detection signal. However, in practice, not all the drive amplifiers work at the same time. Therefore, over-current value of an amplifier not working at the moment is included in the reference current value. Therefore, over-current detection of the drive amplifier is not precise.

Drive amplifier system and over-current detection method for the same


A terminal includes an elastic contact piece. The elastic contact piece comes into elastic contact with a counterpart terminal in a terminal container. The elastic contact piece includes a bent portion bent and extending from a portion of a side wall of the terminal container in the terminal container, and a clamping portion extending from a front end of the bent portion in the terminal container along an extending direction of the side wall. A dimension of the clamping portion is longer than a dimension of the bent portion in the extending direction, so as to prevent a foreign substance from entering between an inner wall of the terminal container and the clamping portion.

As disclosed in PTLs 1 and 2, there is a terminal capable of coming an elastic contact piece into elastic contact with a counterpart terminal which is inserted into a terminal container, thereby clamping the counterpart terminal in the terminal container. The elastic contact piece disclosed in PTL 1 is formed in a flat shape, except for a front end which is brought into contact with the counterpart terminal. The elastic contact piece is disposed in the terminal container to be overlapped with a side wall of the terminal container. In PTL 2, a portion of the side wall of the terminal container is gently inclined in the terminal container to form an elastic contact piece.

Terminal having a pair of elastic contact pieces with inwardly and outwardly bent portions


A method of making a glue-down prefinished hardwood flooring product, which includes the steps of providing a wooden flooring component for installation with like flooring components to form a floor. The flooring component has a top surface for being exposed after installation, a bottom surface and opposed side edges. The bottom surface of the flooring component has a plurality of longitudinally-spaced scores cut therein transverse to the length of flooring component from one side edge to the other side edge and along substantially the entire length of flooring component for more closely adhering to irregularities of the subfloor. An adhesive layer is applied and permanently adhered directly to the bottom surface of the flooring component from one end edge to an opposite end edge thereof for providing an attachment interface surface for adhering the flooring component to the subfloor. Locking means are formed in the flooring component. The locking means extend along the length of the flooring component adjacent opposing side edges for locking adjacent flooring components together side-to-side to form the wood floor. A marginal area devoid of adhesive is left adjacent at least one of the opposing side edges on the bottom surface of the flooring component. A protective release cover is applied to the attachment interface surface of the adhesive to protect the adhesive until removal of the release cover when the flooring component is applied to the subfloor.

This invention relates to a glue-down prefinished wood flooring product, and a method of manufacturing such a product. Wooden flooring is typically installed by either nailing strips of adjacent wood flooring strips to a subfloor to form an essentially seamless wooden flooring surface, or by applying wood flooring strips to a subfloor which has been pre-coated with, for example, a mastic-type layer into which the flooring strips are embedded.
Also, in the past applicant marketed an adhesive-backed "peel and stick" parquet wood flooring. The parquet squares were five-sixteenths inch thick solid wood. Adhesive was applied to both sides of a relatively thick foam pad. One side of the foam pad was adhered to the back side of the wooden square, and the other side covered by a release paper until application. The parquet squares were adhered to the floor by peeling off the release paper and sticking the padded squares to the subfloor. However, over time the adhesive released from the subfloor. In addition, the relatively thick foam pad sheared, i.e., delaminated irregularly along a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the parquet squares, and caused failure of the floor. This product was removed from the market due to these failures.
There is a need in the market for a prefinished hardwood strip flooring product which can be adhered by an adhesive directly to a suitable subfloor, and which will serve with the same durability and longevity as other, more expensive wood flooring systems. This flooring product should preferably have the same solid "feel" as a full thickness, solid hardwood floor of the type typically nailed into place, without any of the "spring" or "bounce" which characterizes prior art glue-down flooring systems which rely on relatively thick foam adhesive pads to adhere the system to the subfloor.
The product according to the application is faster, easier and less expensive to install than either a nail-down flooring system or a flooring system laid into a pre-applied mastic layer. The product has particular application in the flooring aftermarket for use by "do-it-yourself" homeowners who want the expensive look of high quality hardwood flooring without the disruption resulting from a contractor-installed floor. There is presently a trend back towards the use of hardwood flooring, and many homeowners are removing existing carpeting in order to replace it with hardwood flooring. A flooring system which can be installed onto a subfloor onto which a carpet was previously installed without the need to raise doors and moldings to accommodate a greater thickness is desirable, since it simplifies the do-it-yourself installation process.
The flooring product and method according to this application address those needs.

Method of making a glue-down prefinished wood flooring product


Embodiments provide an electronic device. The electronic device includes a leadframe having a first face that defines an island and multiple leads configured to communicate with a chip attached to the island, a first structure element separate from and coupled to a first face of the leadframe, at least one electrical connector coupled between the chip and the first structure element, and at least one electrical connector coupled between the first structure element and one of the multiple leads.

Integrated circuit chips are conventionally enclosed in a package that provides protection from environmental conditions. One form of package is a leadless package having a carrier that defines an interface for electrical connection to other devices. Another form of package is a leaded package having leads that enable electrical interconnection between the chip and another electrical component, such as a printed circuit board or a motherboard. One such leaded semiconductor package is a Quad Flat Package including a supporting leadframe, one or more chips electrically coupled to the leadframe, encapsulating material molded over the leadframe and the chip(s), and multiple leads extending from the encapsulating material.
The leadframe is stamped or etched from metal to include the die pad or island, tiebars extending from die pad, a power bar, and a ground ring configured to communicate with die pad, and the leads. The leads include input/output leads, at least one lead coupled to the power bar, and at least one lead coupled to the ground ring. Connectors are suitably wired between the leads and the chip. The power bar and the ground ring are connected to predefined leads. As a consequence, and by necessity, some of the leads are connected to power bar and some of the leads are connected to ground ring. Utilizing the leads to connect with the power bar and/or the ground ring undesirably reduces the number of remaining and available input/output leads for forming an electrical pathway to chip. In addition, each new chip layout calls for a different leadframe design.
For these and other reasons there is a need for the present invention.


A system and method are provided for optimizing the flow of seed along a seed handling path. The system and method include multiple stages at which seeds undergo different processes to prepare the seeds for sale or further handling. The stages may include one or more of Receiving, Husking, Sorting, Drying, Shelling, Bulk Storage, Sizing, Conditioning, Treating, and Packaging. Sensors may be located along the seed handling path for monitoring the seed handling path and the operations and conveyances occurring along the seed handling path at and between different stages. The sensors may provide feedback signals to a controller, which may in turn adjust the operating parameters of various processing devices associated with one or more of the stages in a real-time scenario to optimize the operations and conveyances occurring along the seed handling path.

Commercial seed production is a process that involves many steps. In the case of corn, for example, harvested ears of corn may first be husked (i.e., have their husk material removed), sorted, dried, and shelled before the corn is placed into bulk storage. When it is time to package the seed corn, the seeds are removed from bulk storage, and they may be sized, conditioned, and/or treated before being packaged for sale or distribution.
Many factors can affect the quality of the end product seeds. For example, variations in the moisture content, ripeness, size, and quality of the harvested crop at the upstream end of the process may influence the effectiveness of each stage of the seed production process. As a result, there may be substantial variability in the end product, which is undesirable. Further, variations in the harvested crop may cause operating parameters such as feed rates to be adjusted in order to accommodate the variations. However, adjustments to an operating parameter at one step may result in undesirable effects downstream. For example, gravity tables may require a relatively consistent flow rate in order to function properly, and hence use of surge bins may be needed in order to equalize flow rates.
In some cases, some measurements are taken at a downstream location along the process through manual sampling of the seed, and the process upstream may be manually adjusted accordingly. Manual sampling, however, introduces an additional variable, as human errors may result in inaccurate information for process control. Furthermore, such manual sampling is typically isolated to one or two points along the process, which may not be enough to provide an accurate picture of the process conditions along the entire process path. In addition, such conventional sampling techniques are labor-intensive and may result in delays as the process is stopped to conduct the sampling and/or to make corresponding adjustments.
Further, manual sampling may not produce data at intervals sufficient to rapidly determine the existence of a statistically significant error. For example, when samples are taken at half hour increments, it may be hours before a sufficient number of data points are recorded and an error trend is identified. Further, during this time, seed product may continue to be produced and the defective seed product may combine with previously produced seed product. When the defective seed product is inseparable from the previously produced seed product, the continued production of defective seed product may contaminate additional seed and make it unusable.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved system and method of seed production which allows for more consistent and thorough measurements of process conditions and provides for adjustment of process parameters to optimize the quality of seed produced in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

System and method for sensor-based feedback control of a seed conditioning and production process


Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a handheld cleaning device that sanitizes an item to be cleaned by, in a single action, dispensing ozone and ultrasonic wave cavitations in an aqueous medium that contains the object to be cleaned. The handheld device comprises a dipping end, which further comprises an ozone generator, dispensing ozone from the dipping end, and an ultrasonic wave generator generating ultrasonic cavitation in an aqueous medium. The device is configured to be held on a holding end, with a side opposite the holding end configured for dipping into an aqueous medium (e.g., water, cleaning fluid, liquids, etc.) which is contained in a vessel. The vessel is a concave structure capable of holding such aqueous medium, such as a sink, a bowl, a basin, and the like.

Microorganisms on food products as well as other common products are a large cause for the spread of certain illnesses. Due to bacteria and pesticides that are often present on fruits and vegetables, it is not uncommon for the person who handles and/or ingests the food to become seriously ill. According to the CDCP, in the years 1996-1997 alone, there were 76 million cases of food-borne illnesses in the United States alone. Sickness results from such food-borne bacteria as salmonella, listeria, campylobacter, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, shigella, etc. These bacteria used to only appear on meats, but due to new fertilization techniques, they have begun to appear on other foods such as spinach and peanut butter. Also, other germs, such as strains of the flu, can be passed on to food by any person who handles that food.
Fear and worry about certain bacteria in fruits and vegetables can have an economic impact on the food industry. For instance, researchers working with Western growers estimated that the 2006 North American E. coli outbreak cost spinach farmers in the United States $74 million.
Harmful microorganisms do not just appear on food products, but also on many objects that come into contact with food, such as eating utensils and wash clothes. If these objects are not properly cleaned, the microorganisms they pick up can be transferred to food which will later be ingested. Other objects, though they rarely, if ever, touch food, such as children toys, mouth guards, oral equipment, and the like, can also carry dangerous microorganisms,
Also, the bacteria and other microorganisms on perishable foods are a main source of food spoilage. If the microorganisms on food were removed, the food would stay fresh longer.
The rate of sickness and its economic impact show that the current sanitation methods, such as washing food in a sink filled with water, is not sufficient. A method must be found to properly sanitize the food of harmful microorganisms.


A process for the production of compacted granules for use in a detergent composition by providing a homogeneous, solid, free-flowing premix to which a plasticizer or lubricant is added, and extruding the mixture through a perforated die under a pressure of from about 25 bar to about 200 bar to form strands of the mixture. The perforated die has an opening width corresponding to a predetermined size of the granules. After emerging from the perforated die, the strands are cut to the predetermined size of the granules by means of a cutting unit. The process enables the preparation of detergent compositions containing increased contents of surfactant components.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for the production of compacted granules, to the granules obtained by this process and to storable and free-flowing detergent concentrates containing the granules.
In the field of solid, free-flowing household and institutional detergents and particularly in the field of powder-form laundry detergents, there is a trend towards the manufacture of products having increased apparent densities. Recent commercial products of this type have apparent densities of the order of 700 g/l. This increase in apparent density is consistent with the need for less packaging dictated by environmental requirements. Efforts to market detergents in the form of relatively highly concentrated mixtures of ingredients are being made with the same object in mind. At first, reducing the amount of diluents in the concentrates as an unnecessary salt component appeared to be a solution to the problem. However, the problem at hand is not easy to solve in this way. Prerequisites for such formulation changes are understandably that, on the one hand, the detergent performance required by the consumer remains at least comparable with that of commercially available products and, on the other hand, the stability of pourable, free-flowing products should also be guaranteed. As documented by the extensive prior art on the subject, satisfying this requirement profile poses considerable technological problems.
2. Discussion of Related Act
Thus, German patent application 20 50 560 describes a process for the production of particulate ("noodle-shaped") detergents having apparent densities of 500 to 900 g/l, in which a premix of specific composition is compacted "under pressure"and subsequently converted into strand form. Unfortunately, there are no references to the intensity of the pressure to be applied. To prevent the strands from sticking together, they have to be cooled by means of an air stream before they are size-reduced to pieces of certain length. The apparent density is inversely proportional to the length of the pieces.
German patent application 21 62 353 describes a process for the production of enzyme granules and enzyme-containing detergent granules having an apparent density of 300 to 1,000 g/l. In this process, a mechanically precompounded paste is extruded under a pressure of about 7 to 35 bar to form a long strand. To prevent the strands from sticking together to form relatively large aggregates on leaving the extruder, they have to be "deplasticized". This is done either by cooling or by evaporation of the moisture, the solvent or the plasticizer (surface hardening). Only then can the strands be broken up into relatively small pieces of the required length.
According to the teaching of German patent application 22 24 300, granulated detergents having apparent densities of 300 to 800 g/l are obtained by extrusion and subsequent rounding of the spaghetti-like extrudates (Marumerizer). In this process, all the constituents are carefully mixed before extrusion in the quantities in which they are present in the end product. It is important to ensure that the constituents are selected and combined in such a way that they form a viscous or plastic paste before extrusion. Accordingly, variations to the detergent formulations are possible to only a limited extent.
European patent application 328 880 describes a process for the production of detergent extrudates having apparent densities of 700 to 800 g/l, in which a powder-form premix is initially extruded to spaghetti-like strands under reduced pressures of 0.1 to 0.5 bar. The strands are then broken up into pieces which, in turn, are extruded into special predetermined shapes. To ensure that the individual end products have the same weight, size reduction of the spaghetti-like strand into pieces is monitored by weighing.
European patent application 351 937 on the other hand describes a process for the production of detergent gran-ules having apparent densities of at least 650 g/l which, again, is dependent on the particular formulation. Thus, detergents containing 12 to 70% by weight surfactants must contain at least 15% by weight water-soluble, crystalline inorganic salts. The ratio of crystalline salt to surfactant must not fall below a value of 0.4. The detergents are dry-mixed in known mixers and granulated.
By contrast, European patent application 352 135 describes a process for the production of granular detergents having apparent densities of 650 g/l, in which a solid alkaline material is introduced into a mixer or granulator incorporating a cutting unit and liquid anionic surfactant in the acid form is added so slowly at temperatures not exceeding 55.degree. C. that the mixture remains solid throughout the entire neutralization process. The alkaline material has to be used in excess. Only on completion of neutralization can a liquid binder, for example water, liquid nonionic surfactant or an aqueous polycarboxylate solution, be added to the mixture. Granulation takes place in known mixers and granulators.
Finally, US-PS 3,188,291 describes a process for the production of granular soap carriers and detergents having low apparent densities in the range from about 16 to 480 g/l. In this process, the paste is extruded under pressures of from about 82 to 165 bar. Under higher pressures, the paste was too viscous and could no longer be extruded. By contrast, under pressures below 82 bar, the apparent density was too high. Accordingly, the teaching of this patent specification is that low apparent densities are obtained where relatively high pressures are applied during the extrusion process, the apparent density increasing with decreasing pressure.

Production of compacted granules for detergents


A system and method for managing a telecommunications network through near real time analysis of Call Detail Records (CDRs) is provided. The system and method of the invention reports how a particular call service is performing and how its performance deteriorates as a result of any type of network event, including both hardware and software related events. A feature of the invention is that it provides several levels of service impact reporting, thus providing users with more versatile and detailed network management capabilities.

Conventional network management systems are comprised of network elements such as switches and transmission equipment. Network elements produce network event records such as report alarms responsive to the occurrence of network events. The term "network events", as used herein, refers to any event that may cause failure of network elements such as faulty transmission equipment, spliced cabling, switch abnormalities and the like. Network management systems are used to monitor communications networks and report alarms and other network events to users or system maintenance personnel.
Recent developments in network management systems enable networks to correlate many different network event records, for the purpose of showing users the correspondence between individual network events and individual network event records. Thus, users can track the effects of a given network event by analyzing the network event records produced responsive to the given network event. This is valuable because a single transmission outage, for example, can result in thousands of network event records being generated.
The present assignee has developed an international network management system, referred to as the International Community Information System (ICIS), that receives numerous network event records from switches and transmission network elements. Typical network event records include trunk alarms that report on the performance of a switch trunk. These network records are not related to any particular call or service. ICIS identifies and correlates switch alarms with transmission alarms, and presents information to the user indicative of the switch event records and transmission network event records that are related to a given network event. This method of network management identifies the network event records that are generated as a result of a given network event.
Typical communications networks support a variety of telephone services. Exemplary services include Inbound, Outbound and Outbound Transit. A limitation of prior art methods of network management is that they do not provide the user with an assessment of how telephone services are impacted by network events, including which services are impacted. This determination must be performed with manual analysis. In fact, many prior art systems are incapable of assessing service impact as a result of network events. This is because when a particular route fails, perhaps due to a fiber cut, calls are automatically switched to another route. This call switching is in accordance with normal network operations, and will go largely undetected as a problem. However, a particular service could be impacted by such an operation.
In addition, calls for a particular service can traverse several different routes. If there is a problem with a particular service, its impact would also traverse several different routes. Since prior art systems rely on the correlation of reported network events, said correlation based on network topology, they would not be able to correlate the different instances of a service problem, since service problems are frequently not tied to network topology.
Another limitation of prior art methods and systems of network management is that they only detect and report problems that result from switching and transmission hardware failures. Often, a minor software fault, such as an error in a call routing translation database, can result in many blocked calls. Since such a problem would not cause the generation of network equipment alarms, it would go undetected by prior art network management systems.

System and method for managing a telecommunications network by determining service impact


A method for in vitro regeneration of fertile Gossypium plants is provided in which cells from the transition region tissue of seedlings is excised and cultured. The transition region tissue of cotton seedlings extends from the uppermost portion of the root and into the hypocotyl region. Transformed cells are regenerated into homogeneously transformed plants by means of somatic embryogenesis on hormone-free medium. A method for production of transgenic Gossypium plants capable of transmitting a foreign gene to progeny is also described in which cells derived from the transition region tissue of seedlings are targeted for transformation. The method increases the number of different cotton genotypes that can be used to make stably transformed plants capable of transmitting the foreign gene to progeny.

Production of transgenic plants requires transformation of plant cells with foreign DNA and regeneration of transgenic plants from the transformed cells. Numerous methods for transformation of plant cells are known including Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, particle gun bombardment, silicon carbide whiskers, sonication or electroporation. However, successful regeneration of plants capable of transmitting foreign DNA to progeny from the transformed cells has proven difficult for numerous economically important crops.
Microparticle-mediated transformation of cotton embryos gave rise to a very low frequency of germline transformants. See PCT/US92/01721. Bombardment of meristems produced one clonal transgenic plant per 100 to 500 meristems targeted for transformation. Only 0.1 to 1% of these transformants were capable of transmitting foreign DNA to progeny. Likewise, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,004,863 and 5,159,135 describe a method for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotton that is genotype-dependent. These patent disclosures describe successful transformation of a limited number of genotypes within Gossypium hirsutum.
Somatic embryogenesis has been found to be genotype dependent in many different crop species. With regard to cotton, only a few varieties in each species of the commercially important G. hirsutum and G. barbadense can generally be transformed and regenerated by somatic embryogenesis. See Trolinder et al., Plant Cell Reports 8: 133-136 (1989) and PCT/US92/01721. Another difficulty with this approach is that growth regulators or plant hormones are required to redirect tissue differentiation. These treatments lengthen the time period required to achieve embryogenesis and may induce somaclonal variation. Trolinder et al. , 1991 Plant Cell Reports 10: 448-52 (1991). Somaclonal variation can be eliminated or minimized if regeneration occurs in a short time period.
Likewise, in order to recover a fertile plant that is resistant to a selected biotic or abiotic agent as a result of in vitro selection, a reproducible method for regeneration of plants is required. For example, recovery of a fertile plant that is resistant to a herbicide or pathogen through in vitro selection is dependent upon a reliable method for regeneration of a plant.
A need therefore exists for a method for regeneration of plants in vitro that can be utilized with diverse genotypes. A need also exists for a method for germline transformation of plants that can be utilized with diverse genotypes. In particular, a need exists for an efficient method for transformation of cotton plants of diverse genetic backgrounds. A need also exists for an efficient method for production of transformed cotton plants capable of transmitting a foreign gene to progeny.

Transformation and regeneration of fertile cotton plants


According to an embodiment, a shaping device includes an acquiring unit, an extracting unit, first and second calculators, a determining unit, a shaping unit, and a display unit. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire strokes handwritten by a user. The extracting unit is configured to extract multiple combinations of strokes. The first calculator is configured to calculate a first likelihood representing a probability that each combination related to a target graphic. The second calculator is configured to calculate a second likelihood representing a probability that each combination related to an incomplete shape. The determining unit is configured to determine whether there is a first combination having first likelihood not less than a first threshold and the second likelihood not more than a second threshold. The shaping unit is configured to shape the strokes into the target graphic. The display unit is configured to display a result of shaping.

Technologies for shaping strokes of handwriting input by a user into graphic data are known.
With the technologies of the related art as mentioned above, however, erroneous shaping is likely to occur when a graphic to be shaped into is expressed by using another graphic as part thereof. An object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a shaping device capable of increasing the accuracy of shaping into a target graphic expressed by using another graphic as part thereof.


The present invention relates generally to a system and method for treating wastewater in a filter media apparatus having a draft tube system. The filter media may be walnut shell media.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for treating wastewater, and more particularly to a wastewater treatment system and method utilizing a walnut shell filter media.
Discussion of Related Art
Walnut shell filter media is known for its affinity for both water and oil, making it a desirable filter media and is typically used for the removal of oil from water and wastewater. Conventional walnut shell filters include pressurized deep bed applications in which the water is forced through a bed depth. Periodic backwashes are also routinely conducted to regenerate the bed. Typical backwash methods include expanding or turning the bed by imparting energy to the bed.
Conventional backwash systems include mechanical mixing and mechanical scrubbing with impellors and recycle lines, as well as the introduction of high velocity gas or high velocity water in a countercurrent direction. Mechanical systems used to backwash beds increase the initial costs of the system and may lead to increased maintenance costs to service mechanical seals. Recirculation of the bed also increases the initial and maintenance costs of the filter unit and increases the footprint of the filter unit with additional pumps for recirculation. The mechanical backwash methods also utilize backwash fluid to remove any oil and suspended solids released from the bed, which leads to the generation of significant amounts of backwash fluid. Similarly, the use of high velocity backwash liquid generates a large volume of backwash fluid. Conventional backwash systems are also known to create dead spots in which the filter media is not sufficiently turned and/or in which the backwash fluid does not reach, effectively leaving oil and suspended solids in the bed.
A need remains for a compact walnut shell filter media unit having a footprint sufficiently small to be used in offshore applications. Moreover, there is a need to reduce the amount of backwash water generated during backwash of the walnut shell filter unit and to reduce the number of dead spots which are not contacted by the backwash fluid.

Water treatment apparatus incorporating walnut shell filter media and a draft tube system


A flat-clinch stapler has a base, a magazine assembly, a handle device, a flat-clinch device and a buffering device. The magazine assembly and the handle device are pivotally connected with the base. The flat-clinch device has a slider and a moving board. The slider is slidably mounted on the base. The moving board is mounted above the slider and is pivotally connected with the base. The buffering device has a protrusion, a block and an elastic member. The protrusion is securely disposed on the moving board. The block is slidably mounted on the base and abuts the protrusion. The elastic member abuts the block and the base. When the moving board is pivoted, the block is driven by the protrusion to move.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flat-clinch stapler, and more particularly to a flat-clinch stapler having a buffering device.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 11, a flat-clinching procedure of a conventional flat-clinch stapler mainly has two steps. The first step is that a handle device 70 drives a slider 81 to slide, and a moving board 82 is free to pivot. The second step is that the moving board 82 is driven by the handle device 70 to overwhelm an elastic force of a moving board spring 83 and then is pivoted downwards. Accordingly, a staple is flat-clinched by a clinch unit of the flat-clinch stapler.
The conventional flat-clinch stapler is designed to staple up to 40 sheets of paper, and the moving board spring 83 must have high coefficient of elasticity such that the flat-clinch stapler has a good flat-clinching effect when stapling 40 sheets of paper. However, the moving board spring 83 having high coefficient of elasticity weakens the flat-clinch effect when the flat-clinch stapler staples few sheets of paper.
The user will not apply a strong force to the conventional flat-clinch stapler when the flat-clinch stapler is used to staple only few sheets of paper, for example, two sheets of paper. When the moving board 82 is pivoted downwards, the user often misjudges, assuming that the moving board 82 is pivoted to a specific position and the flat-clinching procedure is accomplished. In fact, the moving board 82 has not yet been pivoted to the specific position and has not overwhelmed the strong elastic force of the moving board spring 83. Consequently, leg portions of the staple are not actually flat-clinched, and an opening is formed between the leg portions.
In sum, when stapling few sheets of paper, the conventional flat-clinch stapler easily causes the user to misjudge, assuming that the staple is flat-clinched, and not to press the moving board 82 to the farthest down. The conventional flat-clinch stapler cannot provide a good flat-clinching effect and needs to be improved.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a flat-clinch stapler having a buffering device to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

Flat-clinch stapler having a buffering device


Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of microtubule-associated protein 4. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding microtubule-associated protein 4. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of microtubule-associated protein 4 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of microtubule-associated protein 4 are provided.

In order to maintain their shape and integrity, it is critical that all types of cells contain a structural scaffold. This structure is known as the cytoskeleton and is composed of a framework of interlocking proteins such as microtubules, actin and intermediate filaments. It is currently believed that the controlled regulation of the assembly and disassembly of the cytoskeleton is critical to the survival of the cell and many cellular processes are mediated by the cytoskeleton, especially those involving the interaction of the cell with the surrounding environment. These processes include but are not limited to cell adhesion, motility, and polarity. Cell division or mitosis is also dependent on concerted structural changes in the cytoskeleton.
There are several proteins that, in conjunction with the primary components of the cytoskeleton, act as regulators of cytoskeletal architecture. Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) comprise one group of proteins that mediate microtubule assembly and function required for the maintenance of cytoskeletal integrity. MAPs co-purify with microtubule polymers and are defined by their association with the microtubule lattice. These proteins are divided into two classes; motor MAPs which play an integral part in cellular movement, and structural MAPs which dictate the morphologic characteristics of the cell (Maccioni and Cambiazo, Physiol. Rev., 1995, 75, 835-864; Olmsted, Annu. Rev. Cell Biol., 1986, 2, 421-457).
Microtubule-associated protein 4 (also known as MAP4) is a member of the non-neuronal structural MAP family. Studies comparing the bovine, human, and mouse MAP4 sequences demonstrated an 80% similarity among the proteins indicating that they belong to the same family of MAPs (West et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1991, 266, 21886-21896).
Originally isolated from microtubule preparations of differentiated mouse neuroblastoma cells, MAP4 was shown to be encoded by a single gene that expresses multiple transcripts in a tissue-specific manner (Code and Olmsted, Gene, 1992, 122, 367-370; Parysek et al., J. Cell Biol., 1984, 99, 2287-2296). These studies implicate MAP4 in the mediation of processes common to supportive and connective tissue types in the mouse. Further support of this conclusion comes from studies in which a muscle-specific MAP4 transcript was isolated in the mouse and shown to be required for myogenesis (Mangan and Olmsted, Development, 1996, 122, 771-781). In these studies, a plasmid bearing the muscle MAP4 nucleotides 216-1214 in the reverse orientation was transfected into myoblasts. Expression of this construct eliminated muscle MAP4 expression with a concomitant perturbation of myotube formation (Mangan and Olmsted, Development, 1996, 122, 771-781).
MAP4 is believed to affect microtubule dynamics by stabilizing the microtubule lattice (Illenberger et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271, 10834-10843). It has been shown that this stability is disrupted upon phosphorylation and recently at least two kinases have been reported that phosphorylate MAP4, cdc2 kinase which phosphorylates MAP4 in the M (mitosis) phase of the cell cycle and p110mark kinase (Illenberger et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271, 10834-10843; Ookata et al., Biochemistry, 1997, 36, 15873-15883).
Overexpression of the full- or partial-length (containing only the microtubule binding domain) MAP4 protein was shown to retard cell growth and inhibit organelle motility and trafficking in vivo (Bulinski et al., J. Cell Sci., 1997, 110, 3055-3064; Nguyen et al., J. Cell Sci., 1997, 110, 281-294). MAP4 expression has been shown to be elevated in cells with mutant p53 oncogene expression and therefore linked to cancer chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity. Immunofluorescent studies of murine fibroblasts transfected with MAP4 revealed that cells overexpressing MAP4 were more sensitive to the cancer drug paclitaxel, and less sensitive to vinca alkaloid treatment (Zhang et al., Oncogene, 1998, 16, 1617-1624).
Currently, there are no known therapeutic agents which effectively inhibit the synthesis of MAP4. To date, strategies aimed at inhibiting MAP4 function have involved the use of antibodies and antisense expression vectors. Blocking antibodies produced to the microtubule binding domain of MAP4 were used to investigate the role of MAP4 in vivo. Antibodies microinjected into human fibroblasts were shown to sequester MAP4 from microtubule binding. However, these studies suggested that the removal of MAP4 does not affect microtubule assembly, organization, posttranslational modification of tubulin, mitotic progression or microtubule-dependent intracellular organelle distribution which is in contrast to other findings in the art (Wang et al., J. Cell Biol., 1996, 132, 345-357).
Therefore, in light of the contradictions in the literature and the fact that this strategy is untested as a therapeutic protocol, there remains a long felt need for agents capable of effectively inhibiting MAP4 function.
Antisense technology is emerging as an effective means for reducing the expression of specific gene products and may therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of MAP4 expression.

Antisense modulation of microtubule-associated protein 4 expression


The present invention discloses a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof which improves its characteristics even though it is miniaturized. According to one aspect of the present invention, it is provided a semiconductor device comprising a first semiconductor element device including a pair of first diffusion layers formed in the semiconductor substrate with a first gate electrode therebetween, and a first conductor layer formed in the first diffusion layer and having an internal stress in a first direction, and a second semiconductor element device including a pair of second diffusion layers formed in the semiconductor substrate with a second gate electrode therebetween, and a second conductor layer formed in the second diffusion layer, having an internal stress in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and constituted of the same element as that of the first conductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a semiconductor device using a silicide and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a recent miniaturized semiconductor device, especially in a metal insulator semiconductor (MIS) type field effect transistor (FET) device, it has been demanded to improve characteristics of the semiconductor device, such as an increase in a speed and a reduction in power consumption. In order to increase the speed of the semiconductor device, it is required to improve a current driving force of an active component. In a conventional semiconductor device, the current driving force has been improved with a reduction in a gate length. However, a sufficient improvement in the current driving force cannot be expected by a simple reduction in the gate length with progress of miniaturization in recent years. Therefore, improving the current driving force by any alternative technique has been demanded, and there has been used, e.g., a technique which gives a stress to a channel region of an FET to enhance mobility of a carrier.
In a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, there has been known that a current driving force of the semiconductor device can be improved by applying stresses with opposite direction to respective channel regions in an n channel MOSFET (which will be referred to as an nMOS hereinafter) and a p channel MOSFET (which will be referred to as a pMOS hereinafter).
In a conventional CMOS semiconductor device, a silicide is formed on a surface of a source/drain contact region of each of the NMOS and the pMOS to reduce a parasitic resistance of the active device. As the silicide, there is used, e.g., titanium silicide (TiSi2), cobalt silicide (CoSi2), nickel silicide (NiSi) or the like. It is known that these silicides all have a tensile internal stress against silicon.
If this type of silicide is formed on the surface of the source/drain contact region of the MOSFET, a compressive stress is induced in the source and the drain (in the silicon substrate) immediately below the silicide, and a tensile stress is induced in the channel region of the MOSFET arranged beside the silicide. When the tensile stress is given to the channel region, in the nMOS, mobility of a carrier (electron) flowing through the channel enhances, which contributes to an improvement in a current driving force. However, in the pMOS, since a carrier flowing through the channel is a hole, and thus its mobility reduces. Accordingly, there arises a problem that a driving current is decreased in the pMOS. In order to enhance the mobility of the hole, a compressive stress must be applied to the channel of the pMOS.
Therefore, an improvement in the current driving force can be realized by giving a tensile stress to the channel region of the nMOS and the opposite compressive stress to that of the pMOS.
In a conventional salicide technology used to form a silicide, a direction of a stress induced in a silicon substrate is uniquely defined depending on a kind of silicide to be used. Therefore, if only one kind of silicide is used, a current driving force of one of the nMOS and the pMOS can be improved, but a current driving force of the remaining one is disadvantageously lowered. If a dual silicide structure using two kinds of silicides is adopted, stresses in desired directions can be given to both the nMOS and the pMOS, but there is another problem that a manufacturing process becomes very complicated.
In order to solve the problem, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-60076 discloses a technology in which one type of silicide is formed in a source and a drain, then a first silicon nitride film (an Si3N4 film) having a tensile stress is formed on an nMOS region and a second Si3N4 film having a compressive stress is formed on a pMOS region. These Si3N4 films control the stresses induced in the nMOS and pMOS channel regions in opposite directions each other, thereby improving respective current driving forces. Since the first and second Si3N4 films are formed by different manufacturing methods, the manufacturing process becomes complicated. Further, there occurs a new problem, e.g., a problem of a stress in an interface region where the first and second Si3N4 films come into contact with each other.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


A derivative of tryptophan is provided wherein the NH-group of the tryptophan indole nucleus is protected with tert.-butyloxycarbonyl (BOC) and the .alpha.-amino group is protected by 9-fluorenyl-methyloxy-carbonyl (FMOC). The carboxylic acid group of the tryptophan derivative may comprise a free COOH group, may be modified with a protecting or activating group, or may comprise an acyl group bonded to another chemical moiety, such as a polymer, another amino acid, a dipeptide, a polypeptide, or a protein. The tryptophan derivative is useful in the preparation of dipeptides, polypeptides or proteins containing at least one tryptophan-derived amino acid residue.

It is well known in the art that the NH-group of the indole nucleus of the amino acid tryptophan is liable to an attack of several reagents if said NH-group is present as free, not protected NH-group. The problems are specially severe if the synthesis of a dipeptide, polypeptide or protein has to be performed which comprises in its amino acid sequence at least one moiety of tryptophan and furthermore at least one moiety of arginine which has its guanidino group protected. Even if the guanidino-protecting group is split off using extremely mild conditions, the yields of the corresponding dipeptide, polypeptide or protein are lowered due to an attack at the NH-group of the indole nucleus of the tryptophan.
Until now several protective groups for the NH of the indole nucleus of tryptophan in combination with several protective groups for the alphaamino group of tryptophan were used in order to avoid the above stated difficulties. However, until now no combination of protective groups for the indole nucleus with protective groups for the alphaamino groups were found out which on the one hand result in corresponding protected derivatives which have the necessary stability and which can be used for the performance of the synthesis of dipeptides, polypeptides and proteins in which synthesis no drastical lowerings of the yield are observed in the reaction step where sidechain protective groups of other amino acids of the amino acids sequence are split off.
It was the aim of the present invention to provide new protected derivatives of tryptophan which do not have the disadvantages of the until now used protected derivatives.

Protected derivatives of tryptophan, processes for their preparation and their use for the preparation of dipeptide, polypeptide or protein structures


Disclosed are hair styling compositions comprising at least two latex polymers, wherein at least one latex polymer is a film-forming polymer. The composition is capable of forming a film having certain properties on a substrate. Methods of styling the hair are also disclosed.

Compositions for styling the hair are known, such as, for example, hair spray compositions, hair gels and mousses, hair volumizing compositions, hair smoothing creams, lotions, serums, oils, clays, etc. The goals of many hair styling compositions include to hold or fix the hair in a particular shape, to impart or increase volume of the hair, and/or to smooth the hair, e.g. to decrease or eliminate the appearance of frizz.
Drawbacks associated with current products for styling the hair include that the product is often sticky or tacky and/or often produces a film that imparts a sticky or tacky feel, and styled hair that is stiff and/or "crunchy" (i.e. the film is hard and brittle resulting in a crunching feel or sound when the hair is touched), which is undesirable for most consumers.
Current products for styling the hair typically include water soluble film-forming polymers. Depending on the chemical make-up of these polymers, they may be either soluble in water, or they may be water insoluble polymers which are made water soluble via various chemical modifications, such as neutralization. Solutions comprising these polymers tend to be viscous, i.e. as the concentration of the polymer increases, its viscosity builds up rapidly. Translated to styling applications, as the solvent evaporates, the polymer solution becomes thicker on the hair surface, resulting in a sticky or tacky film. These products also tend to exhibit problems with product spreadability, hair manageability, and low degree of humidity resistance which is particularly a problem in hot and humid countries.
The use of latex polymers is also known, for example, to provide extended-wear properties to a cosmetic product (e.g. mascara, eyeliner, nail polish) into which they are formulated.
Some known compositions include one latex polymer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,929 describes a composition comprising a dispersion of a latex film former, optionally with a plasticizer, and a non film-forming particle not capable of being film-formed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,374 describes a composition comprising cationic polymers, a surfactant, and an anionic latex. U.S. Pat. No. 7,740,832 describes a composition comprising at least one non-latex polymer and an anionic, cationic or amphoteric fixing polymer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,721 describes a composition comprising a latex particle. U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0089490 A1 describes a composition comprising a water-dispersible styling polymer and a gel-forming polymer.
Other known cosmetic compositions include various components to provide improved properties such as adhesion, flexibility, and compatibility of other components. For example, U.S Patent Application No. 2007/0224140 A1 describes a composition comprising a cosmetically acceptable medium, a non film-forming microsphere to provide adhesion, and a film-forming component comprising two water-borne emulsion polymers. French Patent Application No. FR 2 968 978A describes an eyeliner composition comprising at least two film-forming latexes and a plasticizer to increase the flexibility of the film. French Patent Application No. FR 2 898 050A describes a composition comprising a fatty acid ester, and a copolymer of a (meth)acrylate polymer and a hydroxyester (meth)acrylate. U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0297467A describes a composition comprising at least one neutralized sulfonated polymer and mixtures of acrylates and hydroxyester acrylates. U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/035335 A1 describes a mascara composition comprising two water-dispersible acrylate polymers, and a cross-linked polymeric film-former to enhance the compatibility and bind the two water-dispersible acrylate polymers. International Patent Application No. WO 2011/137338 A2 describes a composition comprising a polyurethane dispersion and an acrylic film-forming dispersion. U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0071646A describes an aerosol device containing a composition comprising a polyurethane dispersion having a particle size of from 0.1-1 μm, and at least one non-latex fixing polymer.
Additionally, some cosmetic compositions incorporate polymers having a core-shell structure. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0064045 A1 describes a mascara composition comprising a dispersion of particles having a core-shell structure. U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0286833 A1 describes a multistage polymer comprising a latex core-shell particle comprising a soft polymer and a hard polymer. In addition, U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0317432A describes an applicator for makeup containing a composition comprising a colorant and at least one latex or core-shell latex particle.
Cosmetic compositions in a non-aqueous medium are known. For example, European Patent Application No. EP 1 082 953A describes a dispersion comprising two film formers in isododecane. International Patent Application No. WO11056332A describes a composition comprising three volatile solvents, and at least one film former, for example silicon acrylate or acrylate, soluble or dispersible in at least one of the three solvents.
Compositions for use in mascaras may have low glass transition temperatures ("Tg") to obtain a soft film. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0028284 A1 describes a mascara composition comprising at least two acrylate film formers, where the glass transition temperature ("Tg") of the mascara composition is ≤20° C. U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/134043A describes a mascara composition comprising a fatty acid and at least one acrylate resin emulsion.
Some known compositions use solubilized polymers rather than polymer particles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,693 describes a composition comprising a solubilized blend of two polymers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,328 describes a composition comprising at least one acrylate latex that is soluble in solutions containing low volatile organic compounds or in water upon neutralization.
U. S. Pat. No. 5,441,728 describes a composition comprising a water-soluble fixative polymer and a latex particle. Water-soluble polymers tend to be sticky, and may not be suitable for applications requiring a clean touch.
French Patent Application No. FR 2 834 458A describes a nail polish composition comprising two film formers in an aqueous medium in a specific ratio.
However, it has now been discovered that by providing a composition comprising at least two latex polymers, wherein at least one of said latex polymers is a film-forming polymer, and wherein each latex polymer is selected to have particular properties, it is possible to form a film on a substrate that has certain desirable properties, such as a clean, natural, and/or "invisible" feel, and a lack of stickiness. Such compositions may be useful in hair-styling applications wherein styling benefits such as a natural look, curling or straightening, and styling hold are imparted to hair.
Moreover, compositions according to embodiments of the disclosure may be prepared that deliver a surprisingly broad range of hair styling benefits, such as, for example, from low to high style-hold and curl-retention properties, for example by varying the weight ratio between both latex polymers, with or without additives.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A cook pot in which the lid acts as a supplementary heating device to heat the contents inside the pot quickly. The lid has a top and a long cylindrical piece which fits inside the pot body and extends all the way down to the bottom of the pot. A heating band is then located in the lower end of the cylindrical piece towards the bottom of the pot. This heating band heats the entire cylindrical piece, and thus the contents inside the pot.

Conventionally, most pots such as coffee pots, cook pots, rice cookers, and oriental pots for extracting herbs and medicines heat the contents from the bottom of the pot. With this method, it is not possible to heat objects quickly.
Accordingly, in order to solve this problem, this applicant previously filed PCT/KT02/00900 for a cook pot with dual heat sources: a conventional and supplemental heat source. The conventional heat source heats the contents of the pot from the bottom, typically utilizing an external heat source, such as a gas range. The supplemental heat source consists of an electric heat generator which is attached to the lid and extends deep inside the pot. The supplemental heat source then heats the contents from inside the pot. This supplemental heat source, when used in conjunction with the conventional heat source, accelerates the heating of the contents by heating the contents from the inside, as well as from the bottom.


This patent application describes a new combination treatment of selective, noradrenaline-reuptake inhibitors (NARI) and specifically, reboxetine, and pindolol to provide rapid relief to patients suffering from depression, general anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), panic disorders (PD), social phobia (SD) and the like.

This invention describes new treatments that should provide for a fast acting rapid onset of relief from several nervous system disorders, and it involves the administration of the drug reboxetine in combination with the drug pindolol.
The introduction of tricyclic antidepressants in the early 1960s has provided a major advance in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Reactive and endogenous depressions, diagnoses formerly carrying grave prognostic implications, have become, with the introduction of the tricyclics, manageable disorders with a much smaller toll on the patient and the society as a whole.
The early tricyclic compounds were reuptake inhibitors of all the catecholamines released in the synaptic cleft, thus resulting in prolongation and enhancement of the dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine=5-HT) action. Lack of selectivity also causes undesired side effects particularly on the acetylcholine (especially the muscarinic component), and histamine mediated neurotransmission.
Because of these unwanted pharmacodynamic activities, cognitive impairment, sedation, urinary and gastrointestinal tract disturbances, increased intraocular pressure were limiting factors in the clinical use of these compounds and often required discontinuation of treatment. Of utmost concern were also the cardiac toxic effects and the proconvulsant activity of this group of drugs.
More recently, selective reuptake inhibitors for serotonin (SSRI) have been introduced with definite advantages in regard to fewer side effects without loss of efficacy.
Here we present the surprising finding that when the drug pindolol is given to a patient concurrently with a drug from a new category of antidepressants, a so called noradrenaline (NA) reuptake inhibitor (NARI), the combination of drugs act with surprising speed in relieving the symptoms of depression and it may be used for treating the symptoms of other central nervous system disorders including, but not only, general anxiety, Addictive Disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), panic disorders (PD), social phobia (SP) and the like.
One particular NARI that is preferred is reboxetine. Reboxetine is the generic name of the pharmaceutical substance with the chemical name of 2-(I-((2-ethoxyphenoxy)benzyl)-morpholine, and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Reboxetine can be a free base, or it can include reboxetine methanesulfonate (also called reboxetine mesylate) or any other pharmaceutically acceptable salt that does not significantly affect the pharmaceutical activity of the substance.
The chemical name of pindolol is 1-(1H-Indol-4-yloxy)-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-propanol; 4-[2-hydroxy-3-(isopropylamino)-propoxy]indole; pinodolol. Pindolol is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,515, incorporated by reference and process steps are described in Swiss patents 469,002 and 472,404, assigned to the Sandoz Company, now the Novartis company, all documents incorporated into this document by reference. It has the trade name VISKEN(copyright).
The present invention provides for the dosing of both reboxetine and pindolol, concurrently. The dosages for reboxetine and pindolol can be measured separately. The two drugs can be given as a single combined dose or given separately. They may be given at the same or at different times as long as both drugs are in the patient at one time over a 24 hour period. The two drugs will preferably be given to the patient, concomitantly, concurrently, at or about the same time, within about 5, 10, or 30 minutes, or they may be given within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18 or about 24 hours, or fractions of minutes or of hours of each other. Concomitant or concurrent administration means the patient takes one drug within about 5 minutes of taking the other drug. Because the goal here is to provide rapid symptomatic relief to the patient, in most cases when treatment is started the two drugs would be administered to the patient close in time and typically concomitantly; thereafter, the timing of each drug""s administration may not be as important.
A preferred dose range of reboxetine is 4 to 10 mg per patient per day and the more preferred dose is 6 to 8 mg or 8 to 10 mg per patient daily, depending upon the patient, delivered twice a day (b.i.d.). The reboxetine should be given to a patient concurrently with pindolol.
A preferred dose range of pindolol is 10-60 mg per patient per day and the more preferred dose is about 10 mg per patient daily, depending upon the patient, delivered twice a day (b.i.d.). Preferably the pindolol should be given concurrently with reboxetine as described above.


A polygon mirror of an object detector of a vehicle includes first faces for projecting a laser to a first predetermined area and a second face for projecting the laser to a second predetermined area higher than the first predetermined area. The polygon mirror is rotated to project the laser to the first and second predetermined areas through a projection window. Thus, the laser can be projected not only to an area at normal height in front of the vehicle but also to an area higher than the normal height in front of the vehicle. Thus, even if a reflection object of an obstacle is positioned at a high position, probe light can be projected to the reflection object. As a result, object detection or distance measurement can be performed correctly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object detector mounted on a vehicle for detecting an object such as a preceding vehicle with the use of light waves.
2. Description of Related Art
As a kind of object detector mounted on a vehicle, there is a known distance measurement device (a laser radar) for measuring a distance from an obstacle such as a preceding vehicle (a vehicle in front) with the use of a laser and the like, for instance, as disclosed in JP-A-2002-031685 (Patent Document 1). The distance measurement device makes a laser diode intermittently emit the light ahead of the vehicle. The distance measurement device senses light reflected by the obstacle in front of the vehicle with the use of a photo sensor. The distance measurement device measures the distance from the obstacle based on a time difference between light emitting timing and light receiving timing.
More specifically, the distance measurement device has a light emitter, a polygon mirror, and a light receiver. The light emitter emits a laser. The polygon mirror is formed in the shape of a truncated six-sided pyramid. The polygon mirror rotates and functions as a scan mirror. The polygon mirror reflects the laser. The light receiver receives the reflected laser. Thus, the laser emitted by the light emitter is reflected and led ahead of the vehicle by the polygon mirror. At that time, the polygon mirror is rotated so that the laser from the emitter strikes the respective side faces of the polygon mirror. Angles, at which the polygon mirror reflects the laser, are adjusted to scan a predetermined area in front of the vehicle with the laser. A reflector of the preceding vehicle is used as a reflection object in the obstacle. The light receiver receives the laser reflected by the reflector to measure the distance.
In the conventional distance measurement device, the laser projected toward the preceding vehicle scans an area (referred to as a first predetermined area, hereafter) of an angle of approximately 4 degrees in a vertical direction and an angle of approximately 36 degrees in a horizontal direction. In the case where the first predetermined area is applied to a vehicle such as a truck, which is large in vehicle height and has a reflector at a high position, the mounting position of the reflector is higher than the area to which the laser is projected. In such a case, there is a possibility that the laser cannot strike the reflector suitably and distance measurement cannot be performed correctly.


Dipcoated Rx spectacle lenses require coating scratch resistance, tinting and/or AR coating processes. Chemically, fully-hydrolized copolymers of amino silane and epoxide silane form the chemical backbone of these heat-curing hardcoats, although polyfunctional organic resin modifiers may also "co-cure" into the backbone. The liquid coating copolymer is made in three chemical reactions: (1) fully hydrolizing the two silane Components A&B separately, with a stoichemetric excess of water; (2) ketimine formation, to latently cap the amine functionality; (3) "bodying" the liquid hardcoating to a desired degree of copolymerization, by reacting together the fully hydrolized ketimine silane Component B with the fully hydrolized epoxide-functional silane Component A. Dilution is with the selected resin modifier(s) ketone and alcohol solvent. The resin modifier has at least two organo-functional reactive groups per molecule, of epoxide or melamine or hydroxyl or urea families.

Traditionally, spectacle lenses were made from glass or, more recently, cast thermoset plastics such as CR-39 (allyl diglycol carbonate, cast-polymerized with a peroxide cure). Just in the last two decades, however, the spectacle lens inductry has found they can get better lenses cheaper by highly-automatable injection molding of thermoplastics (most specifically, optical-grade polycarbonate) with highly-automatable liquid dipcoating and curing. For example, twenty years ago the world market for non-vision-corrective ("zero-power" or "plano" lenses) spectacles for industrial workers' safety was still dominated by heat-tempered glass lenses. Now, this market is dominated by hardcoated polycarbonate plano lenses, which can be made for a fraction of the cost of the glass lenses and, at the same time, offer better worker eye protection, by providing far greater breakage resistance (polycarbonate has 10-20 times stronger than glass' impact strength) and better UV-absorbancy protection. The result is that in the U.S., about 85% of all zero-power, industrial safety spectacle lenses are now hardcoated polycarbonate. These lenses' hardcoatings are very much a mature commodity, so lower cost and improved ease of use is important, while maintaining film hardness. General chemistry of these nontintable heat-curing silicone hardcoats are copolymers of monomethyl silane with colloidal silicas. (Applicant Galic is a co-inventor in a co-pending patent application U.S. Ser. No. 08/430,251 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,814, on improved versions of same.)
For vision-corrective ophthalmic prescription spectacle lenses, there are other needs and other considerations which have to be met. These hardcoating deficiencies have historically retarded market share growth of polycarbonate Rx spectacle lenses. One such need is for tint-receptivity--the ability for optical laboratories or dispensers to immersion-dye the hardcoated lens in aqueous dye color solutions, to achieve either a lightly-colored fashionable cosmetic tint or, alternatively, a darkly-colored sunglass tint. In the past, lack of tintability of the hardcoatings have held back polycarbonate Rx lenses from widespread acceptance, particularly in the U.S. market, where the majority of Rx lenses are tinted in some way. These tinting operations are conducted in hot (typically, 195.degree.-205.degree. F.) aqueous dye baths, so the hardcoating must be able to accept coloring while, at the same time, maintaining water-resistant adhesion onto the polycarbonate lens substrate and resisting thermal shock/embrittlement of the coating, such as cracking or crazing, as the lens (at room temperature) is dipped into the hot dye bath, and subsequent rinsing in cool water after removing the hot lens out of the dye bath.
Another requirement for Rx spectacle lens hardcoatings not properly met by the monomethyl silicone or methyl silane/silica copolymer nontintable hardcoats is compatibility with anti-reflective vacuum coatings. Such monomethyl silane/siloxane hardcoats have a refractive index of about 1.43; polycarbonate has a refractive index of 1.586. These anti-reflective coatings are applied by various vacuum deposition processes (such as thermal evaporation, or sputtering, or ion-assisted depositions), and these AR coatings on any plastic lens substrate have much better mechanical durability if a good liquid hardcoating of at least 2-6 microns' thickness is first applied as a base coat before AR coating is deposited. In Japan and other Far East oriental markets, the vast majority of plastic Rx lenses are hardcoated, then AR topcoated in this way. Once AR coated, the lens cannot be tinted, but in these markets, a much smaller percentage of Rx lenses are colored at all (typically, less than 20%). Similarly, in Europe, a majority of Rx glass and high index plastic lenses are AR coated, and relatively fewer are tinted colored. Due to the refractive index mismatch of the monomethyl-silane-based coatings with polycarbonate, relatively poorer anti-reflective coating performance results from such an AR-coated/monomethyl silicone-coated polycarbonate lens. Therefore, a hardcoating having a refractive index much closer to that of polycarbonate is desirable as a base coat for AR-coated polycarbonate Rx lenses. AR coating also involves thermally cycling processes, so brittleness is a worry, and although the AR coating film is very thin (far less than 1 micron), it is also very brittle, thus further stressing the hardcoat and substrate boundary layer adhesions and water resistance bonds. Thus, the thermal shock of the water boil test (lens surface temp from room temp to 100.degree. C. nearly instantaneously) and/or cyclic humidity tests are found to be predictive of field failures due to cracking or delamination of these coatings.

Fully-hydrolized ketimine silane/epoxide silane copolymer liquid hardcoating compositions and processes for dipcoating polycarbonate spectacle lenses


A tire mold has a tire molding surface. The tire molding surface is pressed against an outer surface of an uncured tire. A vent hole is provided in the tire molding surface. A surface of an outer edge region surrounding an opening of the vent hole is formed by a smooth surface. The smooth surface is smoother than a surface in a peripheral region of the outer edge region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tire mold in which a vent hole is provided in a tire molding surface which is pressed against an outer surface of an uncured tire, a manufacturing method of a pneumatic tire using the tire mold, and a pneumatic tire cured by using the tire mold.
2. Description of the Related Art
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-37728, in a general tire mold which is used in a curing of a pneumatic tire, a lot of vent holes are provided in a tire molding surface which is pressed against an outer surface of an uncured tire, whereby air remaining between the tire molding surface and the uncured tire can be discharged out of the mold. If the discharge of the air is not appropriately carried out, a rubber short occurs in the tire molding surface due to the residual air, a deficit called a lightness (or a bare) is generated, and it may cause an appearance quality defect of the pneumatic tire.
Typically, the vent hole is set at a position at which the air tends to remain in the tire molding surface, and this position is also a position at which a reaching timing of the uncured rubber is comparatively late, however, it is impossible to arrange all the vent holes at the position mentioned above. Further, the vent holes are arranged on the assumption that the uncured rubber blocks the vent holes in such a stage that most of the air is discharged, however, the vent hole is blocked actually in such a stage that a certain degree of air has not yet discharged, and there is a case that the lightness is generated. Accordingly, the present inventor has considered that if the blocking timing of the vent hole can be further delayed, the generation of the lightness can be suppressed thereby.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-143295 discloses a pneumatic tire in which a pattern portion having a predetermined surface roughness is formed in a bottom surface of a concave depression portion for forming a raised character of a side wall portion, and that a vent hole can be made unnecessary by the pattern portion. However, the technique is structured such as to decorate the raised character portion of the side wall portion like a grain woody texture or a mesh to the end, and cannot be applied to the other positions (for example, a tread surface) which do not require such a decoration, and a practical applicability is widely limited.

Tire mold, manufacturing method of pneumatic tire, and pneumatic tire


A flip chip assembly is disclosed that includes a die with die circuitry and a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the die circuitry. A substrate includes electrical contacts that are juxtaposed with and electrically connected to corresponding die electrical contacts. A passive component is disposed between the die and the substrate, and includes a dielectric disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected to a first of the die electrical contacts and a corresponding substrate electrical contact, and the second electrode is electrically connected to a second of the die electrical contacts and a corresponding substrate electrical contact.

The present invention relates to circuitry devices, and more specifically, to devices with on-board components.
Circuitry incorporated into various integrated circuitry devices such as processor or other logic chips often requires stable power with minimal fluctuations. Capacitors can be used to reduce power fluctuations by storing electrical charge during periods of peak voltage and releasing it during periods of reduced voltage. Capacitors used for this purpose are often referred to as decoupling capacitors. Other passive components, such as resistors or inductors are also used in conjunction with chip circuitry for various purposes.
Various approaches have been tried for decoupling capacitors. For example, discrete capacitors can be mounted on at various locations on chip packages with wired connections to chip circuitry. Deep trench capacitors utilizing silicon on insulator (SOI) technology can be disposed on silicon interposers assembled under the chip. Alternatively, deep trench capacitors utilizing SOI technology can be embedded in the chip itself. These approaches and others each have their respective advantages and disadvantages, and the development of technology to address the issue of power stabilization and other issues that can be addressed by passive components continues to be pursued.

Flip chip assembly with connected component

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION