A system and method for disaster recovery for a plurality of computers on a computer network including creating a first image of base system data for restoring the base system of a plurality of workstations of a computer network, storing the first image on computer media, creating one or more second images application data for restoring one or more applications of the plurality of workstations on the computer network, storing the second image on computer media, creating a third image of personalized data relative to a respective workstation on the computer network and storing the third image on computer media.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems and methods for disaster recovery for computer systems and more particularly to systems and methods for backing up a workstation on a computer network and restoring local data to the workstation in the event of a system crash (i.e., disaster recovery).
2. Background
The contents of the data of a computer may be destroyed or become unavailable by the user's operation of the computer or by a breakdown in the storage device (hard disk crash). The loss of data results in significant damage in terms of time, money and other resources. To minimize damage, backup systems and software have been developed which make a complete copy of the data on a user's hard drive. The backups of the data are done usually at a predetermined time, and generally require the computer to execute an application program to accomplish the backup. Thus, in the event of hard drive failure, the data may be copied back from the backup via an application program.
Generally, there are two current methods of backing up a computer: backing up files (backup using computer media such as a CD-RW or magnetic tape) or drive imaging. Backing up files copies the files onto another medium one by one (in an original or compressed form). Backup are usually performed at the end of a user session after a predetermined period of time or event (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, sales period, after placement of purchase orders, etc.).
Although backup methods are usually very complete in making a copy of the files on the old hard drive, the restore process is slow and requires the user to first format and/or partition the hard drive, reinstall the operating system software, install the system registry information and install the "restore" application program. Thereafter, using the restore program, the user may then copy the backup files from the backup media to the hard drive. However, it is likely that applications need to be reinstalled from their original installation disks since backup copies of such software rarely works reliably. Thus, although file backup methods make excellent full copies of files for disaster recovery, the restore process makes it somewhat tedious and difficult to use.
Moreover, file backup methods take up a great deal of system resources for a computer network that needs files on all workstations to be backed up.
Alternatively, drive imaging enables a user to image their entire hard drive bit by bit, making an exact duplicate of the drive. The image is obtained, however, with the use of an imaging application in which the computer is separately booted (generally with a separate boot diskette) to run an imaging application. Moreover, to restore the drive, the user boots the computer (with a separate diskette generally) into a restoring environment (restore application), which then copies the image back from the separate media upon which the image is stored to the hard drive, which completely restores the drive to its original condition.
However, imaging the drives of all the workstations of an entire network still takes considerable resources and memory storage. Since the storage space requirements and the intrusive nature of the image creation process, imaging has never been considered a viable alternative to backing up and restoring data from individual computers. Accordingly, there exists a need for disaster recovery which addresses the above noted drawbacks of the current backup and restore methods and systems.

System and method for disaster recovery for a computer network


An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators. The control and display unit preferably comprises: (i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in the endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver; (ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via the first and second wireless transceivers; and (iii) a display portion that displays information received from the sensor via the first and second wireless transceivers. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for providing single-use endoscopes to one or more hospitals.

Diagnostic endoscopy is a common procedure in the United States and other countries, perhaps being second only to interventional cardiology in generating hospital revenue.
Traditional endoscopy typically utilizes flexible endoscopes that are steered by internal tension wires. These probes typically include means for illumination, lavage, and imaging (usually with a CCD camera chip at the distal tip), as well as a working channel through which, for example, biopsy forceps, snares, and fulguration probes can be introduced. Such devices allow physicians to see and treat polyps and other common disorders of the alimentary, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts.
Even after 20 years of refinement, present day endoscopes for gastroenterology are complex and costly. Furthermore, hospitals must keep a large inventory of endoscopes on hand, ready for use. Moreover, the endoscopes are typically washed and disinfected, by hand labor and in expensive washing machines. As a result, gastroenterology departments in hospitals must dedicate substantial capital investment to endoscopes and consoles, and significant staff time and floor space to the storage and reprocessing of endoscopes. Reduction in the need for endoscope inventory, testing, preparation and handling would free up hospital resources that could be applied to cost savings or increased patient throughput.

Robotic endoscope with wireless interface


A deformable optical element includes an elastically deformable lens. Electrical contacts are directly attached to the elastically deformable lens and configured to receive an applied voltage. The electrical contacts have opposing surfaces configured to develop electrostatic forces in response to the applied voltage. The electrostatic forces deform the elastically deformable lens to create a predetermined optical effect.

Optical communications technology is finding increasing use in a variety of applications. For example, optical communications links are being considered for replacement of wire interconnections between integrated circuits on a circuit board, and between circuit boards within electronic systems.
One component in most optical communication links is a lens. For example, lenses are used to focus received light on a detector, collimate transmitted light into a beam, or to change the direction of a beam. One challenge in optical systems is when the focus of a lens or angle is to be changed. Lens with fixed optical properties in an optical system can be physically moved relative to each other to provide desired changes in focal length, for example, as in a zoom lens. Mechanical steering of beams using mirrors is known. Such systems can however be mechanically complex and difficult to integrate into an electronic system.
For example, in providing optical interconnection within an electronic system, tolerances in the card cage holding the circuit boards can result in varying positions of the circuit boards relative to each other. In addition to static changes in relative position present during initial placement of cards into the card cage, dynamic variations in relative position can be introduced during operation due to heating, vibration, and other environmental effects. These changes in relative position can result in loss of alignment and focus in an optical interconnect system. Providing mechanically adjustable lenses to compensate for these variations can be complex, expensive, and unreliable.

Deformable optical element, methods of making and uses thereof

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A system comprising a compiler that compiles source-level code to generate an intermediate-level instruction comprising a predetermined component. The intermediate-level instruction is an at least partially optimized version of the source-level code. Execution of the predetermined component triggers the execution of a series of instructions that, when executed, generates previously-unavailable data that is used to re-generate the intermediate-level instruction. The re-generated intermediate-level instruction has a length less than or equal to that of the intermediate-level instruction.

Compilers in Java™ systems often are used to optimize code such that the optimized code is executed with greater efficiency (e.g., in less time or consuming less power) than non-optimized code. In order to fully and completely optimize code, an online compiler requires specific information pertaining to the code. For instance, the specific information may pertain to other classes (by way of a constant pool) used by the code. This specific information is used to place the already-optimized code into a finalized format, thus fully and properly completing the optimization process. For any of a variety of reasons, however, this specific information is often unavailable to the compiler when the specific information is needed. Because the specific information is required by the compiler in order to place optimized code into a complete, finalized format, and further because this specific information is unavailable to the compiler, the compiler is unable to optimize the code at all. Similar problems also may be encountered in non-Java systems.

Method and apparatus for code optimization


A mixture is made from (i) a tris(dihydrocarbylamino) phosphoroamidite and/or a hydrohalide thereof, (ii) a strong base (e.g., NaOH) in proportions of about 2.0 to about 4.0 moles of (ii) per mole of (i), and (iii) at least one solvent for the base (e.g., H.sub.2 O). To this mixture is added a hydrocarbyl monohalide (e.g., EtBr) in proportions of about 1.0 to about 3.0 moles per mole of phosphoroamidite used in forming the initial mixture, and the resultant reaction produces tetrakis(dihydrocarbylamino)phosphonium halide. The process enables more efficient production of tetrakis(dihydrocarbylamino)phosphonium halides, and is capable of being effectively used in large scale production facilities while satisfying the economic constraints of commercial operations.

As described more fully in now commonly-owned copending U.S. application Ser. No. Case OR-7006!, filed Nov. 22, 1996, tetrakis(dihydrocarbylamino)phosphonium halides are useful as catalysts in halogen exchange reactions between alkali metal fluorides, such as KF, and chloro- and bromoaromatics, such as hexachlorobenzene. A variety of useful fluorinated aromatic compounds can be produced in this manner.
A laboratory synthesis method for the preparation of tetrakis(dihydrocarbylamino)phosphonium halides, is described by Koidan, Marchenko, Kudryavtsev, and Pinchuk, Zh. Obshch. Khim., 1982, 52, 2001, an English language translation of which is available from Plenum Publishing Corporation.
Another prior process to form a tetrakis(dialkylamino)phosphonium halide involves the reaction of tris(dialkylamino)phosphoroamidite with one equivalent of an alkyl halide. The reported yield of the tetrakis(dialkylamino)phosphonium halide was 38.5%. In addition, this prior process involved forming the tetrakis(dialkylamino)phosphonium halide in two stages in separate reactors. The first stage involved reacting a tris(dialkylamino)phosphoroamidite hydrochloride with a small excess of sodium hydroxide to free the phosphoroamidite of the hydrogen chloride. After working up this reaction mixture, the HCl-free tris(dialkylamino)phosphoroamidite was isolated and then subjected in the second reactor to the foregoing reaction with one equivalent of the alkyl halide.
A need exists for a process enabling more efficient production of tetrakis(dihydrocarbylamino)phosphonium halides, especially if the process is capable of being effectively used in large scale production facilities while satisfying the economic constraints of commercial operations. This invention is deemed to satisfy these objectives.

Preparation of tetrakis(dihydrocarbylamino)phosphonium halide


A method for producing a bridged type transition metal complex represented by the following formula (1), comprising the following steps (i) and (ii):. step (i); a step for reacting a specific cyclopentadiene compound with an organic alkaline metal compound or an organomagnesium compound to produce an alkaline metal salt compound or a magnesium salt compound of the cyclopentadiene compound; and PA1 step (ii); a step for reacting the alkaline metal salt compound or magnesium salt compound of the cyclopentadiene compound with a specific transition metal compound, wherein at least the step (ii) is performed in the presence of an amine compound.. According to the present invention, there can be provided a method for producing a bridged type transition metal complex having one cyclopentadiene type anion skeleton on an industrial scale in high yield without requiring an industrially disadvantageous low temperature and replacement of the solvent, which is capable of reducing the number of the steps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a bridged type transition metal complex. More particularly, it relates to a method for producing a bridged type transition metal complex having one group with a cyclopentadiene anion skeleton, which is useful as a catalyst component for olefin polymerization.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Transition metal complexes having a group (Cp) with a cyclopentadiene anion skeleton are effective as a catalyst for various organic synthesis reactions, and have widely used and studied at present. Among them, a complex containing an early transition metal such as titanium and zirconium is efficient as a catalyst component for olefin polymerization, and its study including practical use has widely been studied.
Particularly, WO9308199 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,867 disclose that a catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising, as a main component, a bridged type mono-Cp complex represented by the following structural formula, such as dimethylsilylene(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl) (tert-butylamide)titanium dichloride shows high activity. However, it is generally difficult to produce such a complex having a complicated structure, and the difficulty of the production was an obstacle in case of using the complex industrially. ##STR1##
As the method of producing such a bridged type mono-Cp complex, particularly dimethylsilylene (tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)(tert-butylamide)titanium dichloride [Me.sub.2 Si(C.sub.5 Me.sub.4)(NtBu)TiCl.sub.2 ], JP-A-07-053618, JP-A-05-505593 and EP-A-601830 disclose a method of reacting a diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran complex of titanium tetrachloride, which is prepared in the system under freezing at low temperature or separately synthesized and isolated, with [Me.sub.2 Si(C.sub.5 Me.sub.4)(NtBu)]Li.sub.2, which is separately synthesized and isolated from [Me.sub.2 Si(C.sub.5 Me.sub.4 H)(NHtBu)], in tetrahydrofuran or diethyl ether at low temperature.
However, this method has a problem that the yield of the desired complex is low and that it is difficult to handle [Me.sub.2 Si(C.sub.5 Me.sub.4)(NtBu)]Li.sub.2 isolated as a intermediate because it is considerably sensitive to moisture and oxygen in the air and has flammable.
In this method, a solvent such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran or the like, is used to enhance the solubility of a lithium salt compound as the intermediate. Therefore, it was necessary that a complex of titanium tetrachloride with diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran was previously prepared. Such a complex-forming reaction is a vigorous exothermic reaction and is normally carried out under freezing at low temperature, and should be avoided in the industrial production. Besides, the solubility of the complex thus obtained in diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran is not sufficiently high. Moreover, since salts produced as by-products after the reaction, such as LiCl, etc. are soluble in these solvents, it is sometimes difficult to remove them by filtration. When a trial for obtaining the desired product by crystallization without removing these salts is made, a mixture of the desired product and the salts is sometimes obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to separate the desired product from the salts by a method of evaporating the solvent from the reaction solution, followed by solvent replacement with an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, etc. So, the synthesis method still has a problem to be solved in view of efficiency.
In addition, JP-A-07-053618, JP-A-05-230123 and EP-A-639579 disclose a method of reacting a tetrahydrofuran complex of titanium trichloride with the above lithium salt compound or a magnesium salt compound, [Me.sub.2 Si(C.sub.5 Me.sub.4)(NtBu)](MgCl).sub.2 (THF), which has been separately synthesized and isolated by the reaction between [Me.sub.2 Si(C.sub.5 Me.sub.4 H)(NHt-Bu)] and a Grignard reagent (i-PrMgCl), and oxidation-treating the reaction product with a small amount of dichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, decyl chloride or silver chloride.
Furthermore, WO95/19984 discloses a method of synthesizing the desired complex by reacting a tetraalkoxytitanium with the above magnesium salt compound and treating the reaction product with silicon tetrachloride, boron trichloride or diethylaluminum chloride.
However, with respect to these methods, it could not be said that the yield is sufficiently high. Also, the following problems still remain. That is, when the number of steps is large or the reaction is performed via a lithium salt compound, there arises the same problem as that is described above. When a Grignard reagent is used, the yield of the magnesium salt compound as an intermediate is not sufficient (about 65%) and an isolating operation is required. Since the ether solvent is used, there is required a step of separating LiCl, MgCl.sub.2, etc. formed as by-products after the reaction by using a method of solvent replacement.
Generally, in the construction of an industrial production process, the isolation of the intermediate can be omitted and the reaction at low temperature near -78 or -40.degree. C. should be avoided because of causing the limitation of using used materials for the device and a high cost for equipment such as coolant. Furthermore, a method of producing the product efficiently in a short time using as little solvent replacement as possible is preferable. As described above, conventional methods showed insufficient yield and still had various problems to be solved in the case of carrying out the method on an industrial scale.

Method for producing bridged type transition metal complex


Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for creating a mapping includes obtaining a definition relating to a first schema, the definition comprising a first plurality of nodes to be mapped to a second schema comprising a second plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving at least one context value for the received definition, the context value being associated with at least one context category defined for the second schema. The method includes generating names corresponding to each of the nodes in the first plurality, the generated names being consistent with a naming rule for the second schema. The method includes mapping each of the nodes in the first plurality to a respective one of the nodes in the second plurality, wherein the context value and at least one of the generated names are taken into account in the mapping.

Many aspects of electronic communication, and in particular electronic commerce, is based on business documents that parties can exchange over a computer connection. A big problem in current e-Business is the variety in structure and description of business information and business documents. The absence of uniform and standardized methods for the common representation of the structure and semantics of business data has led to today's situation where there is an increasing growth of different representations of electronic business information and documents. It may not be possible to exchange business documents electronically between two business partners without previous coordination and manual mapping between different document structures and semantics. A world-wide accepted syntax for representation exists with extensible markup language (XML), but this does not solve the problem of non-uniform semantics and structure.
Some business documents are based on reusable building blocks that define the semantics of the document data. An example of a standard that defines such building blocks is the electronic business XML (ebXML) Core Components Technical Specification issued by the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business. This specification is also known as the ISO 15000-5 standard, and is hereafter referred to as CCTS. The CCTS is the first standard which combines all necessary aspects for human legibility and automatic machine processing so that an integrated interoperability can be guaranteed. The CCTS-based building blocks are syntax free and very flexible, because they are based on a modular concept. Business information can be assembled for all demands by reusable building blocks. "Syntax free" means that these building blocks, called Core Components or "CCs" and Business Information Entities or "BIEs", represents only the business semantic (meaning) and can be generated in arbitrary representations, like XML, ABAP Objects or Java classes. However, the semantics described by the CCs in accordance with the CCTS do not change. This guarantees one general naming convention for the unambiguous composition of semantic information. A number of conventions within the CCTS (e.g., a naming convention) guarantee that the semantic information in each CC is unambiguous. This mechanism is comparable with the grammar and words of a naturally-spoken language, because a naturally-spoken language can also be represented in many different ways (by writing or by speech), and the semantics are always the same.
Sometimes, two enterprises that wish to transact electronic business use communication schemas that are incompatible with one another (for e.g. a CIDX Purchase Order and a RosettaNet Purchase Order). If a system generates an electronic document using a first communication schema and sends the document directly to another system that uses a different communication schema, the other system is unable to interpret the electronic document because it lacks information for mapping business data elements between different schemas. The other system may therefore use a translation infrastructure to translate electronic documents from the first communication schema format to an intermediary communication schema format and then from the intermediary communication schema format to the second communication schema format. The translation between the schemas must be made manually, and because of the complexity of the schemas not all entities will be translated. This can lead to loss of knowledge.
While the use of an ordinary intermediary schema formats is common, it may, however, have some disadvantages. Particularly, from time to time there is a need to integrate a new schema into the system. This tends to result in more and more extensions of the intermediary format. Solutions such as XML schema specific extensions may not be particularly helpful to the extent they consider a kind of extension in only one dimension. Especially extensions that consider some similar and slightly different parts must be structurally separated. Therefore, the so called one dimension extension may not be helpful for consolidating parts that are semantically the same. That is, due to structural and semantical mismatches in the different sources, the intermediary format is typically extended for the new format and, as a result, the intermediary schema continually grows and becomes more fragmented. In the end, such a situation may not offer any real advantage over creating direct mappings between the different sources.


In a method of generating a virtual map to a plurality of data files necessary for installing software on a computer that is coupled to a network, a primary directory that includes a plurality of links is generated. Each link points to a subdirectory that lists at least one file that is necessary for installing the software. Any subdirectories pointed to by any of the of links that contain redundant files are detected and any links pointing to redundant files are removed from the primary directory. All conflicts between files pointed to by any links of the plurality of links are detected and listed in a conflict report.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer systems and, more specifically, to a system for installing software from multiple networked locations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Installation of software onto a computer typically involves loading a compact disk (CD) in the computer and running an install routine. As shown in FIG. 1, an installation program 14 is run on a client system 12 to install the software. When the software data files necessary for the installation are so large as to exceed the capacity of a single CD, the installation typically involves sequentially loading a plurality of CDs 16 by an operator to complete the install.
When installing software packages on large computer systems, depending on the type of installation chosen, the install can take several hours to complete. The reason for such a long installation period is partly because the installing technician is frequently interrupted during the install. For example, the technician may be called away for meetings, lunch and other ongoing projects and, therefore, may not always be nearby to switch CDs for the installation. Because of this, an installation may take two to four hours longer than if the process were automatic.
Another problem associated with major installations is that they require the physical presence of the technician to change the CDs within the time frame of the installation. This makes it difficult, for example, to start installations in the evening and then allow the installation to run overnight. Also, complicated installations may require data files from several different sources, requiring an operator to seek out the various sources of installation data.
Therefore, there is a need for system that allows a networked computer to receive installation files via a network so as to be able to perform an unattended software install.

System for generating a virtual map to a plurality of files necessary for installing software from multiple networked locations

International Business Machines Corporation


A sound dampening system for a computer including a bracket and a plurality of acoustic shield members. The bracket is adapted to be fixedly connected to a housing of the computer. The bracket is adapted to extend rearward from the computer. The bracket comprises support surfaces adapted to support wires extending from the computer. The acoustic shield members are connected to the bracket. A first one of the acoustic shield members is removably connected to the bracket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computers and, more particularly, to a system for dampening sound emanating from a computer and supporting wires connected to a side of a computer.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,121 discloses a protective enclosure for a computer with acoustic insulating material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,556 discloses a cable management system for a computer.
Computers, such as a tower model server for example, because of the increased heat output from the CPU, are requiring a greater throughput of air for cooling purposes. This means larger more powerful fans. This, in turn, makes for a larger acoustic signature. Sound levels on some systems are already such that they contravene standards for office usage, and sound baffles have to be fitted to the server. Such sound baffles are usually of metal or plastic with an acoustic foam lining. These covers make access to cables difficult. They are large, often awkwardly voluminous in shape, and must withstand the force of being pushed back against a wall.
There is a desire to provide a computer sound baffle for a fan of a computer which is smaller in size than conventional sound baffles. There is also a desire to provide a computer sound baffle for a fan of a computer which is easily removable for servicing components of the computer, such as at the rear side of a tower or mini-tower computer.

Computer acoustic baffle and cable management system


A thermoplastic pre-container, typically a blow molded piece, is provided to form several hollow bodies. The pre-container is elongated along a central axis and includes a bottom section, an opened section and in-between at least one hollow body section. A plurality of circumferential grooves are provided in a pre-container sidewall, each with a bottom line formed in a virtual plane perpendicular to the axis. The bodies are obtained after cutting the pre-container in a direction transverse to the central axis and severing the end sections. Due to the cutting at several of the circumferential grooves, a top opening and a base opening are respectively obtained for at least two hollow bodies, each opening being delimited by an annular inner rim of a body flange.

Containers with a body and an access opening at the top of the body, generally provided with a cover member to seal the access opening, are produced in very large quantities. The annular base generally defines a bearing surface suitable to maintain the container in an upstanding position, parallel to the longitudinal axis. Such containers have a substantially flat bottom portion.
For purpose of mass production, containers may be obtained by thermoforming from a plastic sheet in a mold. The containers are formed simultaneously and their outer rims (at an outer flange) remain joined together. Such method makes it possible to produce particularly inexpensive packaging containers, while at the same time adhering to the hygiene standards necessary for food products. The technology FFS (Form, Fill and Seal) is typically used to produce at high rate conventional containers grouped in packs and each sealed conventionally by a flexible closure lid (membrane). Such containers are also of light weight as compared to glass containers.
A drawback of such containers is that the flange is a thicker not stretched part and thus represents a significant amount of plastic material representing a cost and/or decreased sustainability footprint (more plastic used, more transportation needed for example). Additionally, the flange provides a visual aspect that some consumer would appreciate being different. Another drawback is that the bottom is also a thicker, moderately stretched part, representing as well a significant amount of material with a cost and/or decreased sustainability footprint.
Some containers, typically having a wide opening, may also be provided with a rigid lid, for instance fixed onto a thread or similar fixing part of the container. Such containers are expensive. Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,988 discloses a trimming method to obtain such kind of containers having a threaded finish. Due to economic considerations, such wide mouth blow molded containers are manufactured by employing standard small mouth preforms (that are inexpensive).
Other trimming methods, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,752 for instance, are adapted to obtain a flanged container. A radially inwardly extending circumferential trim line groove is formed in the pre-container, separating a body portion and an opened dome portion. A trim scrap ring, arranged below the trim line groove, forms the desired outer flange that delimits a wide opening.
Containers having an outer flange that protrudes radially outwards provide a visual aspect that some consumer would appreciate being different.
Besides, containers having a side wall integrally formed with the bottom and sealed by a flexible top lid are often not collected by most municipal curbside collections for various reasons. In particular, it costs more money to recycle polypropylene than other plastics; so most utilities opt to skip recycling it altogether. And when dairy product containers are collected, they are melted down and mixed with other plastics to form "mixed plastics".
Another difficulty to achieve such recycling is the fact that a flexible cover member is often introduced in the interior volume of the body (after consumption or use of the content), which makes efficient sorting more complicated. The flexible cover member is often not in same plastic as the body: it is typically defined by a composite material and/or aluminium.
Accordingly, there is an interest for producing containers well adapted to be produced by efficient industrial processes, while being most suitable for recycling purposes.

Method to produce plastic containers from an elongated hollow piece, and plastic pre-container


A device for obtaining off-axis reinforcement of a woven object. The device is made up of a fixed mandrel and a rotating mandrel. The rotating mandrel is connected to the fixed mandrel by a shaft that rotates through the middle of the fixed mandrel. The shaft allows the rotating mandrel to move up and down in relation to the fixed mandrel. A portion of the woven object can be clamped to the fixed mandrel while a second portion of the woven object can be clamped to the rotating mandrel. When rotated, the rotating mandrel causes the warp fibers in the woven object to twist off the 0° direction while fill or hoop fibers remain substantially parallel to the 90° direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to off-axis reinforced symmetric and asymmetric shapes and methods for forming symmetric and asymmetric shapes with off-axis reinforced seamless woven structures.
2. Background of the Invention
Radomes are housings used in the aerospace industry, which may shelter an antenna, radar, or similar devices from the surrounding environment. For example, a radome may be used to protect an antenna from high winds, icing, and/or temperature extremes in an area surrounding the device. Without protection, these devices become vulnerable to the adverse effects of rain, heat, erosion, pressure, and other sources of damage, depending upon where the device is used.
Radomes for aerospace applications have typically been of axisymmetric or symmetric shapes usually in the form of a cone, hemisphere, paraboloid of revolution, or half ellipsoid of revolution. However, radomes of these shapes, fail to meet the radar cross-section (RCS) requirements imposed by some government agencies. That is, although prior art radomes may adequately shelter the device assembly, because of their geometric shape, they have a high RCS and thus can be easily detected by radar. Unfortunately, radar-absorbing materials may not generally be used in conjunction with radomes because these materials may interfere with the broadcasting and reception of signals by components housed within the radome. For instance, in some aerospace applications, a radome protects the enclosed devices from aerodynamic forces and meteorological damage, while at the same time allowing radar transmission and reception, as well as preventing the devices from upsetting the aerodynamic characteristics of the airborne vehicle upon which it is mounted. Interference with signals transmitted to or from such devices would render the devices useless.
Another design problem facing the aerospace industry regarding radomes is that the materials used to construct a radome must be of sufficiently low dielectric properties so as not to interfere with transmitted signals. Additionally, the dielectric properties of the material must be uniform because non-uniform dielectric properties adversely effect transmissions entering or leaving the radome. For example, radomes are typically composite structures. These composite structures usually consist of glass or quartz fiber preforms with a matrix material that is a polymer having low dielectric properties. Radomes of this type may be constructed using resin transfer molding or by hand laying of glass fiber prepregs. The term "prepreg" is used to describe a fabric or uni-directional tape that is pre-impregnated with a polymeric resin. The construction of preforms from resin transfer molded parts may be done, for example, via cutting and stitching individual plies of glass fiber, shaped weaving, polar weaving and Jacquard weaving (shuttle loom). However, these techniques are time consuming and have a significant drawback in that the radome produced by such methods will result in at least one seam which is often the source of failure of such structures when subject to extreme conditions. Seams are also undesirable in radomes because the dielectric characteristics become non-uniform in the area of the seam and therefore can adversely effect signal transmission and reception.
Three-dimensional Jacquard weaving techniques may, however, be used in the construction of radomes. With these techniques, it is possible to construct a sock-like preform from one piece of cloth. This type of sock-like preform is advantageous since it is seamless, thus eliminating the significant problems associated with seams. In the basic weaving configuration, the warp and fill fibers are at right angles to one another so the continuous filling fiber is oriented in the hoop (90°) direction and the warp fibers follow axial contours (the 0° direction) on the final structure. Accordingly, a three-dimensional Jacquard woven, seamless sock preform is preferred over other techniques.
By selectively including or excluding part of the warp fiber, these socks may form various geometric shapes with or without closed ends. They may be woven as a single layer of fabric, however, multiple socks may be formed over one another to build up the desired thickness. The preform may then be processed into a composite structure using the previously discussed manufacturing techniques. However, weaving complex three-dimensional shapes, such as asymmetrical shapes, with current weaving techniques is a challenge.
In an effort to improve the stealth characteristics of aerospace vehicles, it has been shown that asymmetrically-shaped radomes are preferred since they improve the radar avoidance capabilities of the vehicle. However, the advent of asymmetrically-shaped radomes presents further challenges in the construction of such complex three-dimensionally shaped structures. A proposed solution is the use of automated tape laying techniques, whereby strips of glass (or quartz) prepregs are laid down onto a male mandrel. The tape laying head must have many degrees of freedom, apply consistent pressure and be capable of placing tapes accurately side by side. While such machines are available, they are extremely expensive.
In addition, radomes may need to be reinforced in the off-axis direction. For example, there are radome applications that require torsional strength or stiffness, preferably near the ±45° direction. Moreover, other applications that require bearing strength also utilize reinforcement in the ±45° directions along with reinforcement in the 0° and 90° directions. Off-axis reinforcement cannot be achieved with current basic weaving techniques because with current techniques, the warp and fill fibers are at right angles to one another so the continuous filling fiber is oriented in the hoop (90°) direction and the warp fibers follow axial contours (the 0° direction) on the final structure. Therefore, reinforcement along the ±45° directions is not achieved.
There are two conventional approaches for adding off-axis reinforcement. One approach is to cut two-dimensional cloth on a bias. These off-axis plies require significant handwork, and introduce seams that do not preserve the tube-like integrity of the 0°/90° sock and, as previously stated, adversely effect the structural integrity and dielectric properties of the radome. However, these off-axis plies may be used for very large preforms. The second approach is to use a braided sock. This approach preserves the tube-like nature of the preform, but there is a limit to the size of the preform. Further, this approach does not provide true hoop (90°) reinforcement.
Therefore, a need exists for a cost effective method for forming symmetrically and asymmetrically-shaped objects with off-axis reinforcement.

Fabricating symmetric and asymmetric shapes with off-axis reinforcement from symmetric preforms


A semiconductor power device comprises a plurality of power transistor cells each having a trenched gate disposed in a gate trench wherein the trenched gate comprising a shielding bottom electrode disposed in a bottom portion of the gate trench electrically insulated from a top gate electrode disposed in a top portion of the gate trench by an inter-electrode insulation layer. At least one of the transistor cells includes the shielding bottom electrode functioning as a source-connecting shielding bottom electrode electrically connected to a source electrode of the semiconductor power device and at least one of the transistor cells having the shielding bottom electrode functioning as a gate-connecting shielding bottom electrode electrically connected to a gate metal of the semiconductor power device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the semiconductor power devices. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved and novel manufacturing process and device configuration for providing the power device with flexible Crss adjustment to smooth the waveforms and to avoid electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the shield gate trench (SGT) MOSFET for enhanced DC-DC applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional technologies for designing and manufacturing power devices for DC-DC application are still confronted with a difficulty due to a reduced voltage peak of the phase node particularly for DC-DC devices of higher efficiency that requires the voltage peak of phase node to be lower than 80% drain-to-source voltage (VDS) rating to avoid the electromagnetic interference (EMI). These technical issues often limit and adversely affect the device performance.
Furthermore, conventional technologies for reducing the gate to drain capacitance Cgd in a power semiconductor device by implementing the shielded gate trench (SGT) configuration are still confronted with other technical limitations and difficulties. Specifically, the source electrode disposed on the trench bottom in the conventional SGT devices are connected to the source voltage through an edge area of the semiconductor power device. This inevitably increases the source electrode resistance. Furthermore, the extra masks needed to create such connection also increase the cost of manufacturing. Many patented inventions have disclosed such configurations.
Baliga discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,833 a DMOS cell as shown in FIG. 1A. A source electrode is placed underneath the trenched gate to reduce the gate-to-drain capacitance. The gate of the DMOS cell is divided into two segments. The gate-to-drain capacitance is reduced because the contributions to capacitance from the gate-drain overlapping areas are eliminated.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,062, a MOSFET device as shown in FIG. 1B is disclosed where the switching behavior of a transistor configuration is improved by providing a shielding electrode in an edge region. The shielding electrode surrounds at least sections of an active cell array. There is a capacitance between an edge gate structure and a drain zone. The shielding electrode located in the edge region reduces the capacitance between an edge gate structure and a drain zone hence reduces the gate-drain capacitance CGD of the transistor.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,891,223, Krumrey et al. disclose a transistor that includes transistor cells disposed along trenches in a semiconductor substrate with two or more electrode structures disposed in the trenches. Furthermore, metallization structures are disposed above the substrate surface as shown in FIG. 1C. The trenches extend into an inactive edge region of the transistor. An electrical connection between the electrode structures and corresponding metallization are established in the edge regions.
However, the above patented-disclosures including transistor configurations still have the common difficulty that the source electrode disposed on the trench bottom in the conventional SGT devices are connected to the source voltage through an edge area of the semiconductor power device. As there are growing demands for high frequency switch power devices, an urgent need exists to provide effective solutions to achieve the purpose of resolving these technical difficulties and limitations. For power transistors including MOSFET and IGBT, a new device configuration and manufacturing process are necessary to reduce the speed-limiting capacitance between the gate and the drain of these switching power devices.
Additionally, there is a need to improve on the conventional configuration by connecting the shielding electrode underneath the top gate segment to the source to satisfy the reduced voltage peak requirement of the phase node and to avoid the EMI issues in the power devices for the DC-DC applications.
Therefore, there is a need in the art of power semiconductor device design and manufacture to provide new manufacturing method and device configuration in forming the power devices such that the above discussed problems and limitations can be resolved.

Flexible Crss adjustment in a SGT MOSFET to smooth waveforms and to avoid EMI in DC-DC application

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated


A method and apparatus for filtering memory probe activity for writes in a distributed shared memory computer. In one embodiment, the method may include assigning an uncached directory state to a cache data block in response to evicting the cache data block. In another embodiment, the method may include assigning a remote directory state to a cache data block in response to evicting the cache data block and storing it in a remote cache. In a third embodiment, the method may include assigning a pairwise-shared directory state in response to a second processor node initiating a load operation to a cache data block in a modified cache state in a first processor node. In a fourth embodiment, the method may include assigning a migratory directory state in response to a processor node initiating a store operation to a cache data block in a pairwise-shared cache state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to computer systems and, more particularly, to coherency mechanisms within computer systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, computer systems include one or more caches to reduce the latency of a processor's access to memory. Generally, a cache may store one or more blocks, each of which is a copy of data stored at a corresponding address in the memory system of the computer system.
Since a given block may be stored in one or more caches, and further since one of the cached copies may be modified with respect to the copy in the memory system, computer systems often maintain coherency between the caches and the memory system. Coherency is maintained if an update to a block is reflected by other cache copies of the block according to a predefined coherency protocol. Various specific coherency protocols are well known. As used herein, a "block" is a set of bytes stored in contiguous memory locations which are treated as a unit for coherency purposes. In some embodiments, a block may also be the unit of allocation and deallocation in a cache. The number of bytes in a block may be varied according to design choice, and may be of any size. As an example, 32 byte and 64 byte blocks are often used.
Many coherency protocols include the use of snoops, also referred to as probes, to communicate between various caches within the computer system. Generally speaking, a "probe" is a message passed from the coherency point in the computer system to one or more caches in the computer system to determine if the caches have a copy of a block and optionally to indicate the state into which the cache should place the block. The coherency point may transmit the probes in response to a command from a component (e.g. a processor or IO device) to read or write the block. Each probe receiver responds to the probe, and once the probe responses are received the command may proceed to completion. The coherency point is the component responsible for maintaining coherency, e.g. a memory controller for the memory system.
Computer systems generally employ either a broadcast cache coherency protocol or a directory based cache coherency protocol. In a system employing a broadcast protocol, probes are broadcast to all processors (or cache subsystems). When a subsystem having a shared copy of data observes a probe resulting from a command for exclusive access to the block, its copy is typically invalidated. Likewise, when a subsystem that currently owns a block of data observes a probe corresponding to that block, the owning subsystem typically responds by providing the data to the requestor and invalidating its copy, if necessary.
In contrast, systems employing directory based protocols maintain a directory containing information indicating the existence of cached copies of data. Rather than unconditionally broadcasting probes, the directory information is used to determine particular subsystems (that may contain cached copies of the data) to which probes need to be conveyed in order to cause specific coherency actions. For example, the directory may contain information indicating that various subsystems contain shared copies of a block of data. In response to a command for exclusive access to that block, invalidation probes may be conveyed to the sharing subsystems. The directory may also contain information indicating subsystems that currently own particular blocks of data. Accordingly, responses to commands may additionally include probes that cause an owning subsystem to convey data to a requesting subsystem. Numerous variations of directory based cache coherency protocols are well known.
Since probes must be broadcast to all other processors in systems that employ broadcast cache coherency protocols, the bandwidth associated with the network that interconnects the processors can quickly become a limiting factor in performance, particularly for systems that employ large numbers of processors or when a large number of probes are transmitted during a short period. In such environments, systems employing directory protocols may attain overall higher performance due to reduced latency when accessing local memory, lessened network traffic and the avoidance of network bandwidth bottlenecks.
While directory based systems may allow for more efficient cache coherency protocols, such systems may still require probes for certain transactions, which may increase the overall latency of such transactions. Further, additional hardware is often required to implement a directory based system. The directory mechanism often includes a directory cache that may be implemented on an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or other semi-custom chip separate from the processor. When the directory cache is implemented on a separate chip, the overall cost of the system may increase, as well as board requirements, power consumption, and cooling requirements. On the other hand, incorporation of a directory cache on the same chip as the processor core may be undesirable, particularly for commodity microprocessors intended for use in both single processor or multiple processor systems. When used in a single processor system, the directory cache would go unused, thus wasting valuable die area and adding cost due to decreased yield.
Another technique employed in shared memory computer systems to reduce memory latency is referred to as remote caching. In a system employing remote caching, a portion of the system memory attached to one node may be allocated for caching data corresponding to memory locations mapped to another node. The benefits of remote caching may be most significant in systems where remote memory latency is much greater than local memory latency.
In a system that implements remote caching, a storage mechanism is typically employed to identify lines or blocks that are contained in the remote caches. Like the foregoing, inclusion of such functionality within an integrated circuit which is intended for deployment in single-processor environments may lead to waste of die area and increased costs.

Method and apparatus for filtering memory write snoop activity in a distributed shared memory computer


Methods and apparatus wherein a removeable supplemental controller is used to adapt a paper processing system to changes in functionality, particularly when the processing system comprises a printer, and the supplemental controller is a MICR flash device, and the changes in functionality relate to accepting input from an electromechanical keylock added to the printer, and to sensing the presence of a MICR cartridge within the printer.

The use of paper processing systems that include paper processing machines such as printers, copiers and facsimile machines is now commonplace. Such machines typically include a paper source in the form of a tray or other device for holding paper to be processed, a paper feed mechanism for moving the paper through the machine, an imaging mechanism for transferring ink, toner, or some other marking material to the paper, a toner cartridge or other apparatus for providing a marking material to the imaging mechanism, and a controller for controlling the entire printing process from initial receipt of data to output of final product.
In many instances the paper processing machine controller (hereinafter simply "controller") may interact with various components of the system. As an example in the context of a printer, a controller may communicate with various sensors to determine if a paper tray and/or toner cartridge has been inserted into the printer, and to halt or otherwise modify paper processing based on the inputs it receives from the sensors.
In some instances, a paper processing system may comprise components from multiple manufacturers. As an example, a laser printer produced by a first manufacturer might use a toner cartridge from a second manufacturer, and might also use paper trays provided by a third manufacturer. Components provided by other manufacturers often provide additional functionality, even when the component provided is a replacement for a component originally provided with the processing machine.
When components that provide different functionality are included in a processing system after the processing machine has already been manufactured, the controller may not be able to take advantage of all the functionality provided. This problem may be overcome by replacing the controller, but replacement typically requires a high degree of technical skill as well as significant cost. As such, controller replacement is not always a desirable solution.
Another possibility in some instances is to reprogram the controller. However, doing so is often beyond the skill of the ordinary user, risks making the processing system inoperable, and does not provide a solution if additional inputs are to be provided to the controller.
Of particular interest herein are processing systems used to mark objects with marks, typically numbers and symbols, that can be recognized via magnetic ink character recognition (MICR). A common example of MICR characters can be found in the special numbers and symbols you typically see at the bottom of checks. In many instances such MICR processing systems comprise a printer or other processing machine (hereinafter "MICR printer") provided with an ink or toner cartridge (hereinafter "MICR cartridge") containing a marking material (hereinafter "MICR ink") suitable for printing or otherwise forming marks that can be recognized via MICR. MICR printers and cartridges are well known and thus need not be described in detail.
Also of interest herein are flash disk devices such as CompactFlash® cards, and USB flash disks. Flash disk devices are small, removable mass storage devices that weigh approximately one half of an ounce, and in some instances are the size of a matchbook. In some instances, they provide complete PCMCIA-ATA functionality and compatibility. Unlike many other mobile storage solutions, flash disk devices contain no mechanical parts and provide a constant, reliable, and non-volatile way of storing data without a power supply. Flash disk devices are typically designed with flash technology, a nonvolatile storage solution that does not require a battery to retain data indefinitely. Characteristics common to many flash cards are described in the CompactFlash Specification (all versions of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety) published and copyrighted by the CompactFlash Association. Characteristics common to many USB devices can found in the Universal Serial Bus Revision 2.0 specification. Characteristics of at least some USB flash disks can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,354. Said specifications and patent are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.


The invention relates to a support element (105) for a wiper drive (100), comprising a receiving portion (130) for attaching the wiper drive (100), a bearing point (135) for fixing the support element (105) to a surrounding structure (110), and a predetermined breaking point (140). A specified gap (150) lies between the support element (105) and the surrounding structure (110) at a contact portion (142) of the support element (105), the width of said gap being dependent on a force that acts on the support element (105) such that the contact portion (142) comes into contact with the surrounding structure (110) only when a specified force acting on the support element (105) is exceeded.

The invention relates to a support element or a motor bracket for a wiper drive. The invention particularly relates to a support element for a wiper drive of a wiper system in a motor vehicle.
A wiper system comprises a wiper arm and a wiper blade, wherein the wiper arm is set into a pivoting movement about a driven shaft by means of a wiper drive; thus enabling the wiper blade to be guided across a wiping region of a window pane. The window pane can particularly be a windshield of a motor vehicle. The wiper drive is usually attached to a body of the motor vehicle, wherein the attachment must be able to transfer forces to the body that are usual during normal operation. Besides the usual wiping forces, said forces also include peak loads, for example if the wiper blade is moved against an obstacle during wiping, when the wiper arm is being folded down onto or folded back from the window pane or within the scope of changing the wiper blade.
Were the motor vehicle to collide with a person, in particular a pedestrian, a substantial risk of injury can occur to the pedestrian if, for example, his or her head strikes against the wiper shaft of the drive device. In order to reduce the risk of injury to the person during such an impact as much as possible, different measures are taken. One measure relates to lowering the wiper shaft in the event of excessive axial load.
To this end, the drive device is fixed to the body by means of a support element, also referred to as motor bracket, wherein the support element comprises one or a plurality of predetermined breaking points which are set up to break when a predetermined force or energy is exceeded. In so doing, the drive device comprising the wiper shaft and, as the case may be, portions of the wiper arm can drop down below the original installation position thereof and thus be moved out of a danger zone for the affected person.
In order to assess a health risk to the person as a result of the impact during collision, parameters are determined which are summarized in the so-called HIC value (head injury criteria). The force acting on the drive device in order to cause a release of the predetermined breaking point is one of these parameters. Said parameters also include the time delay between the introduction of the force and the breaking of the predetermined breaking point.
In order to better protect the person involved in the accident from the wiper system, it is the aim of the invention to specify a support element comprising a predetermined breaking point, wherein the support element is configured in such a way that the HIC value is positively influenced.


A semiconductor fabricating apparatus comprises a reaction tube defining a space for heat treating a silicon wafer, heater means disposed to extend around the reaction tube, a load-lock chamber connected to the reaction tube by means of a gate valve, a supply pipe communicating with the load-lock chamber for supplying an inert gas and a gas including oxygen thereto, an oxygen densitometer, an inert gas flow rate adjuster and an oxygen flow rate regulator, and based on the results detected by the oxygen densitometer, controls the flow rate of the inert gas and the gas including oxygen, by means of the flow rate adjuster, the flow rate regulator, to maintain the oxygen concentration within the load-lock chamber at a desire value.

The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor fabricating apparatus having a load-lock chamber and, in particular, to a semiconductor fabricating apparatus which permits control of the oxygen concentration within a load-lock chamber, to a method for controlling the oxygen concentration within a load-lock chamber, and to a native oxide generating method in which the generation of native oxide on a wafer within a load-lock chamber is controlled by controlling the oxygen concentration within the load-lock chamber.
In a process for fabricating a semiconductor device by subjecting a silicon wafer to treatments such as thin film deposition and impurity scattering etching, unnecessary native oxide affects the product quality and yield substantially. Thus, a known semiconductor fabricating apparatus has a load-lock chamber of sealed construction, which is connected to a reaction furnace thereof, for accommodating treated hot substrates to thereby prevent the latter from being native oxidized.
Referring now to FIG. 5, description will be made as to the known apparatus having such a load-lock chamber.
Substrates to be treated are loaded on a cassette and then transported onto a semiconductor fabricating apparatus. The semiconductor fabricating apparatus includes a cassette stocker 2 disposed on a front side thereof, a reaction tube 3 disposed at a rear upper part thereof and a heater 4 disposed to extend around the reaction tube 3. The apparatus also includes a load-lock chamber 5 formed as an airtightly closed container, which is positioned at a lower side of the reaction tube 3 and connected to the reaction tube 3 by means of a gate valve 6. Inside the load-lock chamber 5, a boat elevator (not shown) is provided below the reaction tube 3. The boat elevator is capable of loading into and pulling out from the reaction tube 3 a boat 7 with wafers 10 loaded thereon. A gate valve 8 is provided on a side of the load-lock chamber 5 facing the cassette stocker 2. Between the cassette stocker 2 and load-lock chamber 5, there is provided a wafer transfer unit 9.
A wafer cassette 1 loading wafers 10 thereon is fed into the cassette stocker 2, where the wafers 10 are transferred through the gate valve 8 onto the boat 7 by means of the wafer transfer unit 9. The load-lock chamber 5, after vacuum withdrawing, is filled with an inert gas fed from a gas supply nozzle 11 to turn the inside thereof into an inert gas atmosphere. The gate valve 6 is then opened, and the boat 7 is inserted into the reaction tube 3. Upon completion of the treatment of the wafers 10, the boat 7 is pulled out into the load-lock chamber 5 and cooled down there to a predetermined temperature. Thereafter, the gate valve 8 is opened, and the wafers 10 on the boat 7 are transferred to the wafer cassette 1 of the cassette stocker 2 by means of the wafer transfer unit 9.
If oxygen is present in the atmosphere of the load-lock chamber 5 when the treated, hot wafers 10 are cooled therein, a native oxide layer is formed on the surfaces of the wafers 10 due to the native oxidization occurring on the surfaces, thus adversely affecting the properties of the resulting devices. Also, when the untreated wafers 10 loaded on the boat 7 are loaded into the reaction tube 3 of high-temperature atmosphere (approx. 650.degree.-750.degree. C.), oxygen within the atmosphere of the load-lock chamber 5 reacts with the surfaces of the wafers 10 under high temperature, and a native oxide (n-SiO.sub.2) layer forms on the wafer surfaces. The n-SiO.sub.2 layer is likely to grow in thickness more than expected, thus imparting adverse effects on the properties of the resulting devices. To suppress the generation of the native oxide layer, the inside of the load-lock chamber 5 is substituted by an inert gas, as described above.
Referring next to FIG. 4, description will be made as to a known apparatus for controlling the gas atmosphere within the load-lock chamber.
The gas supply nozzle 11 extending into the load-lock chamber 5 has a plurality of gas supply apertures (not shown) disposed at predetermined intervals along the length thereof so that the inert gas can be supplied in a diffused fashion. The gas supply nozzle 11 is connected to an inert gas supply source (not shown) and includes an air valve 12 and a flow rate adjuster 13 provided at an intermediate portion of a supply line of the gas supply nozzle 11. For achieving the balanced exhaustion of the atmosphere of the load-lock chamber, the load-lock chamber 5 has an inert gas exhaust pipe 14 communicating therewith at plural portions (only two shown in FIG. 4 for illustration), as well as an exhaust pipe 16 also communicating therewith. The inert gas exhaust pipe 14 has an air valve 15. The exhaust pipe 16 has an air valve 17 and a vacuum pump 18.
For turning the inside of the load-lock chamber 5 into an inert gas atmosphere by the known gas atmosphere control apparatus, the air valves 12 and 15 are opened, and an inert gas is then fed into the load-lock chamber 5 at a predetermined flow rate set by the flow rate adjuster 13 while exhausting the atmosphere of the load-lock chamber 5 through the inert gas exhaust pipe 14, whereby the atmosphere inside the load-lock chamber 5 is substituted by an inert gas atmosphere. In another instance, with the air valves 12 and 15 closed, the air valve 17 is opened and the atmosphere of the load-lock chamber 5 is exhausted once by means of the vacuum pump 18. Thereafter, the valve 17 is closed and the air valve 12 is opened to allow introduction of an inert gas in substitution for the atmosphere of the load-lock chamber 5. This achieves substitution of the atmosphere of the load-lock chamber 5 by the inert gas with oxygen concentration less than 1 ppm under an atmospheric pressure.
In each of the above-described instances, the atmospheric substitution is achieved to such a level that is almost the same as a complete inert gas atmosphere but control of the oxygen concentration is not possible. Depending on devices (e.g., at the time of generation of a gate dioxide (SiO.sub.2) layer on the MOS transistor of FIG. 2), it is preferable that a native oxide layer of appropriate level is formed on the surfaces of the untreated wafers 10 as the latter are loaded into the reaction tube 3 of hot atmosphere. This is found to be an n-SiO.sub.2 layer of the order of 1-2 atomic layers (less than 2 .ANG.) according to the data obtained through experiments conducted by the inventors hereof. It is not possible for the conventional apparatus to form such appropriate native oxide layer on the wafer surfaces.
In the light of these circumstances, the present invention enables to maintain the oxygen concentration in the internal atmosphere of a container at a desired value and to maintain the gas mixture concentration within a closed container at a desired value so that the generation of an n-SiO.sub.2 layer on wafers upon introduction of the wafer into a hot atmosphere can be controlled.

Semiconductor fabricating apparatus, method for controlling oxygen concentration within load-lock chamber and method for generating native oxide


Provided herein are polymeric α-hydroxy aldehyde or α-hydroxy ketone reagents which can be conjugated to amine-containing compounds to form stable conjugates in a single-step reaction. In selected embodiments, the polymeric reagent itself incorporates an internal proton-abstracting (basic) functional group, to promote more efficient reaction. The substituent is appropriately situated, via a linker if necessary, to position the group for proton abstraction, preferably providing a 4- or 5-bond spacing between the abstracting atom and the hydrogen atom on the α-carbon. Also provided are methods of using the reagents and stable, solubilized conjugates of the reagents with biologically active compounds. In preferred embodiments, the polymeric component of the reagent or conjugate is a polyethylene glycol.

In recent years, human therapeutics have expanded past traditional small molecule drugs and into the realm of biopharmaceuticals. The discovery of novel proteins and peptides has led to the development of numerous protein and polypeptide biopharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, proteins and polypeptides, when utilized as therapeutics, often exhibit properties that make them extremely difficult to formulate or administer, such as short circulating half lives, immunogenicity, proteolytic degradation, and low solubility. One approach for improving the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic properties of biopharmaceuticals is the conjugation to natural or synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). The covalent attachment of PEG to a therapeutic protein can provide a number of advantages, such as (i) shielding antigenic epitopes of the protein, thus reducing its reticuloendothelial clearance and recognition by the immune system, (ii) reducing degradation by proteolytic enzymes, and (iii) reducing renal filtration.
Much effort has been spent on the development of polymer derivatives for coupling to biopharmaceuticals such as peptides, and in particular, on the development of polymer derivatives for coupling to reactive amino groups of proteins. Examples of such PEG derivatives include PEG dichlorotriazine, PEG tresylate, PEG succinimidyl carbonate, PEG carbonylimidazole, and PEG succinimidyl succinate. However, these reagents can suffer from drawbacks such: undesirable side reactions under the reaction conditions necessary to effect coupling, lack of selectivity, and/or the formation of weak (i.e., unstable) linkages between the biopharmaceutical and the PEG.
Aldehyde-terminated PEGs, such as PEG propionaldehyde and PEG acetaldehyde (see, for Example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,252,714 and 5,990,237, respectively) provide the advantage of selectivity in their attachment chemistry. However, when a polymeric aldehyde or ketone is used for conjugation with a polypeptide or similar molecule having a reactive amine group, it is necessary to include a reduction step to stabilize the imine linkage that forms during the conjugation step.

Polymeric alpha-hydroxy aldehyde and ketone reagents and conjugation method


There is disclosed a heating element 10 comprising:                a single-piece heat-resistant base member 1 with a plate portion 1a in which a heater pattern 3a is formed, a rod portion 1b extending from one surface of the plate portion 1a and in which a current-carrying part 3b is formed, and an end portion 1c at an end of the rod portion 1b on the opposite side of the plate portion la and in which a power-supply terminal 3c is formed;        a dielectric layer 2 with insulating property on the surface of the heat-resistant base member 1;         a conductive layer 3 with conductive property on the dielectric layer 2, in which the conductive layer 3 is formed as the heater pattern 3a in the plate portion 1a, as the current-carrying part 3b in the rod portion 1b, and as the power-supply terminal 3c in the end portion 1c; and        a protection layer 4 with insulating property which covers the surface of the heater pattern 3a and the current-carrying part 3b, in which the dielectric layer 2, the conductive layer 3 and the protection layer 4 are formed to unite with the heat-resistant base member 1. There can be provided a heating element resistant to corrosion of a power-supply terminal, with a long-life protection layer, with high durability, compact in size, and capable of being produced at a low cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heating element at least including a heating portion in which a heater pattern is formed in a plate portion of a heat-resistant base member, and a power-supply-terminal portion in which a power-supply terminal is formed in the heat-resistant base member.
2. Description of the Related Art
A heater in which a line or foil of metal having a high melting point such as molybdenum or tungsten is wrapped around or bonded to a heat-resistant base member made of sintered ceramic such as alumina, aluminum nitride or zirconia has been used for heating semiconductor wafers in manufacturing steps of semiconductor devices.
However, such a heater has drawbacks of being prone to deform or vaporize because the heating element is made of metal, being short-life, and being complicated to assemble (see the pyrolytic graphite/pyrolytic boron nitride heater from Union Carbide Services provided in "Vacuum" No. 12, (33), p. 53). Furthermore, use of sintered ceramic for the heat-resistant base member causes a problem that the binder in the sintered ceramic becomes impurities.
Then, to prevent such deformation or scattering of impurities due to a heat cycle, a ceramic heater is developed. The ceramic heater has a heat-resistant base member of pyrolytic boron nitride (PBN) having high mechanical strength and enabling high-efficiency heating, and a conductive layer of pyrolytic graphite on the heat-resistant base member (for example, see the pyrolytic graphite/pyrolytic boron nitride heater from Union Carbide Services provided in "Vacuum" No. 12, (33), p. 53; published Japanese translations of PCT international publication for patent applications No. H08-500932; Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. H05-129210; and Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. H06-61335).
An example of a heating element of such a heater is shown in FIG. 4. A heating element 20 has at least a heating portion 20a in which a heater pattern 3a is formed on a plate-shaped heat-resistant base member 21, and a power-supply-terminal portion 20c in which power-supply terminals 3c are formed at the rim of the surface of the heat-resistant base member 21 on which the heater pattern is formed. A protection layer 4 covers the heater pattern 3a. To the power-supply terminal 3c a power-supply member or a power terminal 5 is connected.
However, pyrolytic graphite used for the heating body is prone to undergo corrosion due to oxidation. Pyrolytic graphite has also reactivity with high-temperature gases used in the heating process. For example, hydrogen gas changes pyrolytic graphite into methane gas. Therefore, there is a problem that remaining oxygen or high-temperature gases in the process environment corrodes pyrolytic graphite in the power-supply-terminal portion exposed for power supply, and the power-supply-terminal portion is short-life.
To solve the problem, an attempt to locate the power-supply-terminal portion away from the heating portion is made. For example, the following solution is suggested: a power-supply terminal is connected to a power-terminal member via a power-supply member having a heater pattern which produces heat by energization. Insulating ceramic such as PBN is used for a protection layer covering the heater pattern, thereby preventing overheating of the power-supply-terminal portion to increase longevity of the power-supply terminal (see Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. H11-354260).
Furthermore, the following method is suggested: assembling the power-supply-terminal portion made of carbon with an assembly part and forming a protection layer (see published Japanese translations of PCT international publication for patent applications No. H08-500932; International Publication WO2004/068541).
However, such a heating element has protrusions on the heating surface. It is necessary to provide a space between the heating surface and an object to be heated, which hampers compact design of the heating element. In addition, a protection layer in the vicinity of a connected part assembled from plural components is apt to produce cracks through usage. A conductive layer begins to corrode from the cracks, which causes a problem to shorten the life of the heating element. Furthermore, when the heating element is used in an environment corroding boride such as using halide etching gas, there is a drawback that an outermost layer of boride lacks resistance to corrosion, and corrosion of the outermost layer shortens the life of the heating element.
Use of pyrolytic boron nitride for a material of a heat-resistant base member as mentioned above gives high mechanical strength and enables high-efficiency heating. However, pyrolytic boron nitride has high anisotropy and is apt to warp. Pyrolytic boron nitride is also expensive. Therefore, use of sintered boron nitride for the heat-resistant base member is also suggested (see Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. H04-358074).
However, when sintered boron nitride is used for the heat-resistant base member, the base member lacks mechanical strength, and it is necessary to thicken the base member. In addition, an amount of heat escaping from the side of the base member is huge. Therefore, it is impossible to rise temperature of a test sample sufficiently, especially high temperature of more than 700° C.
In addition, an advanced ceramic heater with electrostatic chuck on a heater for holding a semiconductor wafer to be heated is suggested currently (see Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. H05-129210; Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. H06-61335; Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. H04-358074; Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. H05-109876). However, the heater does not have sufficient heat resistance.


The present invention relates to a formulation comprising a primary surfactant, a tocol phosphate, water, an active agent, and optionally an oil, wherein the active agent and/or the optional oil comprises a hydrophobic phase.

In this specification where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.
Drug delivery technologies have been developed to improve bioavailability, safety, duration, onset or release, of an active agent.
When developing drug delivery technologies, problems likely to be encountered include compatibility of the drug delivery system and the active agent, maintaining an adequate and effective duration, potential for side effects, and meeting patient convenience and compliance. As a consequence, many drug delivery technologies fall short of desired improvements and requirements. There is a need for improved or alterative drug technologies.


A method for reducing speed change, or both speed change and fog growth, on aging in a photographic material composed of a silver chloride or silver bromochloride emulsion, by treating the emulsion with a thiosulfonate compound and a sulfinate compound, and the photographic emulsion and materials resulting from such treatment.

Silver halide crystals have been the dominant photosensitive material in photographic processes for more than a century. During this time, technological improvements in sensitivity have produced a broad range of materials with specialized photographic properties applicable to a broad spectrum of uses.
Modern photographic emulsions consist of a very large number of tiny silver halide crystals dispersed in a polymeric matrix, typically a colloid such as gelatin. Emulsions can be prepared with silver chloride, silver bromide, or silver iodide, or with mixtures of these halides. When light of the appropriate wavelength strikes a silver halide crystal, a series of reactions begins which generates an electron and eventually leaves in the crystal a small amount of free, zero-valent silver. The presence of this free silver in the exposed crystals provides a latent image, which is an invisible precursor of the visible image that is obtained upon subsequent photographic development.
The preparation of a photographic material generally includes several steps such as precipitation of the crystals in the colloid to form a primitive emulsion, chemical sensitization and spectral sensitization of the emulsion, and coating of the finished emulsion on a support. The photographic properties or overall sensitivity of an emulsion are dependent upon many variables which may be controlled at the various steps in the photographic process. Factors which influence sensitivity of freshly prepared emulsions include the composition (proportion of halides), average size and morphology (shape) of the crystals, the type of chemical and spectral sensitization used, and agents or addenda used to improve coating properties. For example, the most sensitive emulsions usually employ silver bromide crystals. Silver chloride is usually employed in some slow emulsions.
A vexatious problem in the photographic art is the change in photographic properties which occurs upon the aging of emulsion coatings. Photographic characteristics can change during storage as a result of elevated temperature, or as a result of chemical reactions of agents contained in the original coating or of agents from the atmosphere, from the coating support or from the packaging materials. The effects of environment on the aging of emulsions differ with halide composition, chemical sensitization and spectral sensitization.
Some photographic emulsions, in particular, silver chloride emulsions, exhibit an aging pattern in which photographic speed and fog increase during storage. Fog is a deposit of silver or dye that is not directly related to the image-forming exposure, i.e., when a developer acts upon an emulsion layer, some reduced silver is formed in areas that have not been exposed to light. Fog can be defined as a developed density that is not associated with the action of the image-forming exposure, and is usually expressed as "d.sub.min ", the density obtained in the unexposed portions of the emulsion. A density, as normally measured, includes both that produced by fog and that produced by exposure to light.
Several approaches have been described to reduce the storage-related changes in photographic properties. Certain agents can be added to emulsions to attempt to minimize these changes. Agents, known as stabilizers, can be added that decrease the changes in developable fog and/or other sensitometric characteristics of the emulsion coating that occur during storage. Other agents, known as antifoggants or fog restrainers, can be added that decrease the rate of fog density growth during development to a greater degree than they decrease the rate of image growth. Some agents act in both capacities; others may act in only one capacity, or their action may be restricted to particular types of fog development or other aging changes or both. Their quantitative, and sometimes their qualitative, action depends upon the concentration as well as the chemical composition of the agents. Additionally, many agents have limitations in their ability to produce desirable results without producing undesirable side effects. For example, some agents can be added only at specific steps in the photographic process or these agents may, for example, contribute to fog growth or desensitize the emulsion.
Several methods, using certain sulfur-containing (and analogous selenium-containing) compounds, have been described for reducing fogging. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,057,764 discloses the incorporation of sulfinic and seleninic acids or salts thereof into the emulsion, the emulsion support or the emulsion coating protective layer, or alternatively, bathing the emulsion layer in solutions of these compounds. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,394,198 and 2,440,206 disclose the use of certain sulfinic and seleninic acids and their salts in combination with certain thiosulfonate compounds and polythionic acids or salts thereof. European Patent Application Publication 293,917 discloses use of certain thiosulfonate compounds as antifoggants in emulsions in which the silver salts are at least 50 mole% silver chloride. European Patent Application Publication 327,066 discloses the use of certain thiosulfonate compounds in direct positive emulsions.
Similar sulfur-containing compounds have also been described as beneficial in preventing or reducing other types of fog and staining, as well as improving other photographic properties. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,246 discloses the use of certain thiosulfonate compounds to reduce fog caused by use of thioethers in the precipition step of emulsion preparation, while U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,374 discloses the use of certain thioether compounds to reduce the same type of fog. A combination of certain sulfinates and sulfonate compounds has been disclosed as controlling the formation of stains in developed white background (European Patent Application Publication 305,926). The use of thiosulfonic acid esters in conjunction with 2-equivalent magenta dye couplers has been described to improve the efficiency of color formation (U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,099).
Despite attempts to provide photographic emulsions which maintain photographic speed upon storage, yet control fog growth, the art has not provided a photosensitive material having features that adequately address these considerations.

Thiosulfonate-sulfinate stabilizers for photosensitive emulsions


The fan blades have a particular geometry that combines high efficiency, low axial profile, and low noise in an axial flow fan. The fan also comprises a circular outer band that coacts with a surrounding shroud structure to form a labyrinth air seal. The shroud structure comprises two parts that cooperatively define a radially inwardly open groove within which a flange of the fan band is received to form the labyrinth seal.

From previously published patent documents, it is known to construct a one-piece fan that has a hub and a plurality of forwardly skewed blades that extend radially outwardly from the hub to a circular band that surrounds the hub. It is further known to dispose a shroud in surrounding relation to the fan band so that the fan rotates within the shroud.
It is also known to employ such a fan/shroud combination in a cooling module of an automotive vehicle, and in that case to construct the shroud with integral members that extend radially inwardly from the shroud to an integral electric motor mount for an electric motor that rotates the fan. These integral members are spaced axially from the fan blades so as to avoid mechanical interference therewith.
The design of any given automotive vehicle may impose dimensional constraints on a cooling module such that it may not be possible to use known axial flow fan constructions that possess high efficiency and low noise, for example where there is limited axial space for a fan. Accordingly, there is a need for a high efficiency, low noise axial flow fan that can be packaged within a space that is axially limited, and the present invention relates to the satisfaction of this need through novel and unique constructional features. Details of a specific example of a fan and shroud embodying principles of the invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings disclose a presently preferred embodiment according to the best mode contemplated at the present time for carrying out the invention.

High efficiency, low axial profile, low noise, axial flow fan


The peptide Isoleucyl-valyl-threonyl-asparaginyl-threonyl-threonine (SEQ ID NO.1) is disclosed with its use as a pharmaceutical composition in reducing symptoms of viral disease and stimulating properties of immune system in a subject. A method is also disclosed for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising providing an Isoleucyl-valyl-threonyl-asparaginyl-threonyl-threonine (SEQ ID NO.1) peptide and mixing said peptide with a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to short peptides and the use thereof. In particular, the present invention is related to short peptides with biological activities.
The hard copy of the substitute sequence listing and the substitute computer readable form submitted on Feb. 5, 2008 are both incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
2. Description of the Related Art
Peptides are known in the art for treatment of diseases and as pharmaceutical compositions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,113 discloses a peptide that has inhibitory activity for the growth of smooth muscle cells and is therefore useful for preventing and treating pathological conditions associated with growth of smooth muscle cells such as arteriosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty, luminal stenosis after grafting blood vessel and smooth muscle sarcoma. U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,208 discloses another peptide that is found to modulate physiological processes such as weight gain activity of the epithelial growth zone and hair growth. Furthermore, PCT publication no. WO 03/006492 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/237,405 suggested that certain peptides and their pharmaceutical compositions are biologically active and capable of modulating immune responses.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a short peptide or peptides that have biological activity.

Biologically active peptides comprising Isoleucyl-valyl-threonyl-asparaginyl-threonyl-threonine (IVTNTT)

CMS Peptides Patent Holding Company Limited


A computing device identifies a load instruction and store instruction pair that causes a load-hit-store conflict. A processor tags a first load instruction that instructs the processor to load a first data set from memory. The processor stores an address at which the first load instruction is located in memory in a special purpose register. The processor determines where the first load instruction has a load-hit-store conflict with a first store instruction. If the processor determines the first load instruction has a load-hit store conflict with the first store instruction, the processor stores an address at which the first data set is located in memory in a second special purpose register, tags the first data set being stored by the first store instruction, stores an address at which the first store instruction is located in memory in a third special purpose register and increases a conflict counter.

In a typical computing device, load and store instructions handle all data movement between processor registers, memory and peripherals. Load instructions are used to load data from memory into a processor register. Store instructions, on the other hands, are used to store data from a processor register into memory. Both types of instructions specify a data effective address which identifies the address in memory where the data to be stored or loaded is located.
Load-hit-store (LHS) conflicts are a common source of performance issues on POWER™ processors. LHS conflicts occur when a load instruction instructs a processor to load data from an address before the data has been stored to the address by a store instruction.
Often, functions which are only a few steps cause LHS conflicts because the function prologue (store instruction) and the function epilogue (load instruction) are temporally close. In many cases, static and dynamic compilers can resolve the LHS conflicts by inlining the function code. Inlining denotes the process of inserting the complete body of a function in every place that the function is called, which eliminates the time overhead associated with the function call. Replacing the function call with the body of the function results in the removal of the function prologue (store instruction) and function epilogue (load instruction) from the function code since the purpose served by the function prologue (to save the data present in the registers before execution of the function in memory) and the function epilogue (to load the saved data back into the registers) is no longer necessary. Removing the function prologue (store instruction) and the function epilogue (load instruction) from the code, eliminates the possibility of a load-hit-store conflict occurring. Typically, a compiler can eliminate an LHS conflict, via inlining or a similar process, if it can detect the store and load instruction pair that is at the root of the LHS conflict. When the store and load instruction pair is spatially close they can be easily identified by the compiler.
For some LHS conflicts, where the store instruction and the load instruction are not spatially close but still temporally close enough in execution that a LHS conflict is caused, it can be hard to identify the store/load instruction pair causing the LHS conflict. In current POWER™ processors, there are mechanisms where the code is profiled in order to identify a load that causes an LHS conflict. However, there are no code profiling mechanisms to identify the corresponding stores involved in the LHS conflict. Without this information, the compiler has to examine all previous stores until a store is found whose address matches the data address specified in the load instructions. Once the compiler finds the matching store, inlining or a similar process may be used to resolve the LHS conflict. However, searching through previous stores is inefficient and can increase the overhead for static and dynamic compilers immensely.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.