The invention provides anti-LRP6 antibodies and methods of using the same. A particular aspect of the invention provides for bispecific anti-LRP6 antibodies that inhibit signaling by multiple Wnt isoforms.

Similar to most other morphogen and growth factor signaling pathways, mammalian Wnt signaling is deployed multiple times during development and tissue homeostasis through the use of 19 different ligands, 10 receptors, and multiple coreceptors, including LRP5/6, Ror1/2, and Ryk (van Amerongen and Nusse, 2009). In addition, different secreted antagonists that bind either Wnts, such as SFRP1/2/3/4/5 and WIF1, or LRP5/6, including DKK1/2/4 and SOST, modulate interactions between ligands and receptors. These membrane and extracellular proteins and their multiple isoforms provide for differential regulation at the level of expression and combinatorial protein interactions. Most Wnt isoforms appear to be capable of binding coreceptor LRP5/6, and LRP5/6 engagement specifies canonical, or β-catenin dependent, Wnt signaling. Wnt heterodimerizes LRP5/6 and FZD to mediate phosphorylation of the LRP5/6 intracellular domain and Axin binding (Tamai et al., 2000; Semenov et al., 2001; Tamai et al., 2004). DVL is brought into the complex by directly binding both Axin and FZD, and DVL oligomerization likely enlarges these protein complexes on the cytoplasmic face of the membrane that sequester GSK3 and inhibit its phosphorylation and destabilization of β-catenin (Mi et al., 2006; Bilic et al., 2007; Schwarz-Romond et al., 2007; Cselenyi et al., 2008; Piao et al., 2008; Zeng et al., 2008; Wu et al., 2009).
The uniquely large number of ligand isoforms, displaying considerable primary sequence divergence, that mediate mammalian canonical Wnt signaling contrasts with the pair of highly homologous coreceptors. The LRP6 and LRP5 extracellular domains consist largely of four homologous regions, named E1 to E4 from N- to C-terminal, each containing a YWTD-type β-propeller and EGF-like domain (Jeon et al., 2001). Each repeat at a similar position in LRP6 and LRP5 is highly conserved, whereas the different repeats within the same protein are considerably more divergent. Interestingly, Bourhis et al. (2010) demonstrated that Wnt9b binds exclusively within the E1-E2 region in vitro, whereas Wnt3a binds only to a fragment containing E3-E4, suggesting that each repeat, or a combination of two adjacent repeats, binds to a different subset of Wnt isoforms. This arrangement may accommodate the diversity of Wnt proteins, and possibly also allow for their differential regulation by LRP5/6 antagonist ligands. In Notch and VEGF receptors, whose extracellular regions contain repeats of EGF-like and Ig domains, respectively, binding of multiple ligand isoforms is localized to the same region of one or two repeats, although the presence of other repeats can enhance binding. (Rebay et al., 1991; Davis-Smyth et al., 1996; Cunningham et al., 1997).
For receptor tyrosine kinases, ligand-induced dimerization initiates stimulation of the kinase activity and signaling. While ligand-induced receptor-coreceptor heterodimerization is necessary for canonical Wnt signaling, there is no clearly defined role for LRP5/6 or FZD homodimerization. Forced dimerization of different recombinant LRP6 proteins can either activate or inhibit Wnt signaling.
β-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling is initiated by a Wnt isoform binding to both the receptor FZD and coreceptor LRP5/6, which then assembles a multimeric complex at the cytoplasmic membrane face to recruit and inactivate the kinase GSK3. Whether and how mechanistically different interactions between Wnt isoforms and receptors might modulate this process remains to be determined.


In overview, the various embodiments include methods performed by a receiver device processor for implementing one or more buffer space management strategies to free up space in the buffer in response to determining that the buffer is full. In the various embodiments, the receiver device processor may analyze media packets stored in the buffer based on various criteria to identify media packets that may be discarded without significantly impacting playout sound quality to free space in the buffer for incoming packets.

Voice over IP (or voice over Internet Protocol "VoIP") is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. VoIP is available on many smartphones, personal computers, and on Internet-accessible devices. For example, a smartphone user may make calls and SMS text messages through VoIP over a 3G or Wi-Fi network.
VoIP technologies enable media streaming over IP networks using special media delivery protocols that encode voice, audio, video, etc. as sequential packets of data. Typically, the media content is split into multiple packets of media data that are sent from an originating device to a receiving device. Each media packet includes a sequence number that is used when determining the order of playout on the receiving device.
The receiving device may receive the media packets individually or in a burst (i.e., several packets sent as a group), the latter usually occurring when there is a network delay/backlog in packet delivery. The receiving device stores media packets in a buffer of a fixed size for play out in sequential order. After finishing playing a media packet, the receiving device removes the media packet from the buffer to make room for other media packets. Occasionally, given the limited space in the buffer, the receiver device will discard or reject new media packets that are received when the playout buffer is full or when the receiver device does not have the resources to process the media packets because other tasks have a higher priority (which is sometimes referred to as "task preemption"). This may especially be the case when the media packets arrive in a burst, which increases the likelihood that the buffer cannot hold every media packet in the burst or that the receiver device can process every packet in the burst.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A tubeless radial tire for heavy duty use which comprises a pair of symmetrically shaped bead cores disposed one in each of the bead portions, a radial carcass having cords extending between the bead portions and turned up around the bead cores, and a belt layer disposed radially outside the carcass and inside a tread, wherein in each bead portion, the carcass is provided with a profile such that the inclination thereof at a point (P) located at the same axial position as the geometric center of the bead core is 45 to 53 degrees with respect to the axial direction of the tire when the tire is mounted on a regular rim and inflated to a pressure of 0.5 kgf/sq.cm.

The present invention relates to a tubeless radial tire for heavy duty use, and more particularly to an improvement in the profile of a carcass in bead regions which is capable of preventing bead toes from being lifted from the bead seat of its rim while the tire is mounted thereon.
Recently, tubeless radial tires have been widely used for heavy duty use, e.g. truck and bus use.
As the tire pressure and tire load of such a tubeless tire is fairly large in comparison with those in passenger car tires, the engaging force and air-seal between the tire bead portions and the rim bead seats must be higher. However, when such a heavy duty tire is reused by retreading, the bead toe (a) is, as shown in FIG. 8, often lifted from the bead seat (b) of the rim (j) to form a gap (f). The gap (f) leaks the air during initial inflation, which makes it difficult to inflate the retreaded tire. Further, the gap decreases the engaging force between the tire bead portions and the rim bead seats in the inflated state of the retreaded tire.
An examination about the toe lift was made using Computer Tomography, and it was found that:
1) such a toe lift existed before the worn tire is retread, and this toe lift remains after the tire has been retreaded, and PA1 2) even in a new tire which is mounted on its regular rim and inflated to a high inner pressure, a toe lift occurred, and the amount thereof is almost the same value as that in the worn tire state, PA1 3) the amount of bead toe lift (F) in a worn tire state or the amount of bead toe lift in a new tire state is in direct proportion to the amount of bead toe lift (f) in a retreaded tire state, as shown in FIG. 6, and PA1 4) the durability of bead portions of a retreaded tire is in inverse proportion to the amount of bead toe lift (f), as shown in FIG. 7. PA1 a pair of symmetrically shaped bead cores disposed on in each of the bead portions, PA1 a radial carcass having cords extending between the bead portions and turned up around the bead cores, and PA1 a belt layer disposed radially outside the carcass and inside a tread, PA1 in each bead portion, the carcass provided with a profile such that the inclination thereof at a point (P) located at the same axial distance as the geometric center of the bead core from the tire equator is not more than 53 degrees with respect to the axial direction of the tire when the tire is mounted on the regular rim and inflated to a pressure of 0.5 kgf/sq.cm.
The main cause for a toe lift is a radially outward displacement of the carcass cords (c) caused by inflation to a high inner pressure, which displacement pulls up the surrounding bead rubber, and the bead toe (a) is lifted.
Further, the bead rubber is subjected to deformation repeatedly during running under heavy loads with generating heat, and such a toe lift turns into a permanent deformation of rubber in the worn tire state.
Further, it was confirmed that the above-mentioned problems in the retreaded tire can be solved by preventing bead toes in a new tire state from being lifted from rim bead seats or preventing the bead rubber from being pulled radially outwardly by the carcass.


A pliers which allows the user to firmly hold a tack, nail, or screw for application, particularly when in use against a structure. The pliers incorporates a handle offset which allows the user to apply the fastener when working in close quarters with the point of application. The device includes longnose pliers blades with varying diameter of serrations for firmly holding a wide range of fastener sizes and applying them in hard-to-reach spaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, a Fastener Holding Pliers With Hand-Grip Offset, is a device which allows the user to firmly hold a tack, nail, or screw for application, particularly when in use against a structure. The handle offset allows the user to apply the fastener when working in close quarters with the point of application. The device includes long-nose pliers blades with varying diameter of serrations for firmly holding a wide range of fastener sizes and applying them in hard-to-reach spaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of pliers is well known in the art of tools, particularly when used for holding objects, and working with the objects in joining or forming operations. Certainly, pliers are known to be used in assisting with the application of fasteners, particularly nuts being applied to bolts. Standard pliers are also adapted for use in holding the fasteners for application ("starting"), for instance, holding a nail by its shaft as the head of the nail is struck by a hammer for imbedment into wood, or holding a small screw by its threaded portion as a screwdriver is used to start the screw into an object.
A variety of tools are known which are designed specifically for certain fasteners and specifically for starting those fasteners into a structure, as described above. The specific designs include tools for starting nails and tools for starting screws. Other pliers have been designed for very specific use on a pre-determined fastener type or fastener size.
There is a particular need for a pliers which may be used for a variety of fasteners, over a wide range of sizes of those fasteners, and for application in hard-to-reach places where significant longitudinal offset and perpendicular offset from the work area is required. Such a device is described by the present invention.

Fastener holding pliers with hand-grip offset


An oilless high pressure pump suitable for use in devices such as pressure washers and the like is described. The pump includes an eccentric assembly suitable for converting rotary motion of a rotating shaft to rectilinear motion. One or more straps couple the eccentric assembly to a piston assembly. The straps communicate the rectilinear motion of the eccentric assembly to the piston assembly, reciprocating the piston assembly to pump the liquid.

High pressure washing devices, commonly referred to as pressure washers, deliver a fluid, typically water, under high pressure to a surface to be cleaned, stripped or prepared for other treatment. Pressure washers are produced in a variety of designs and can be used to perform numerous functions in industrial, commercial and home applications. Pressure washers typically include an internal combustion engine or electric motor that drives a pump to which a high-pressure spray wand is coupled via a length of hose. Pressure washers may be stationary or portable. Stationary pressure washers are generally used in industrial or commercial applications such as car washes or the like. Portable pressure washers typically include a power/pump unit that can be carried or wheeled from place to place. A source of water, for example, a garden hose, is connected to the pump inlet and the high-pressure hose and spray wand is connected to the pump outlet.
Typically, pressure washers utilize a piston pump having one or more reciprocating pistons for delivering liquid under pressure to the high-pressure spray wand. Such piston pumps often utilize two or more pistons to provide a generally more continuous spray, higher flow rate, and greater efficiency. Multiple piston pumps typically employ articulated pistons (utilizing a journal bearing and wrist pins) or may utilize a swash plate and linear pistons for pumping the liquid. Because these piston arrangements generate a substantial amount of friction (such as for example, sliding friction between the swash plate and pistons), existing pumps are typically oil flooded to provide adequate lubrication. However, such oil-lubricated pumps have several drawbacks. For example, the lubricating oil must be maintained at an adequate level and typically must be periodically replaced. Neglect of such maintenance can result in damage to the pump. Further, the orientation in which the pump may be mounted to the pressure washer frame is severely limited.

Pressure washer having oilless high pressure pump


Disclosed is a roll-off filter apparatus having a small size, a simplified circuit structure and consuming a small amount of power. In the roll-off filter apparatus attaining the above object of the invention, a ramp signal generated from a ramp pattern generator is inserted in each gap of a data input signal temporarily stored in a buffer circuit, and such a signal is filtered in a switched capacitor filter having a roll-off filter characteristic. The output signal of the switched capacitor filter is supplied to be temporarily stored in a bucket brigade device, and the output signal of the bucket brigade device is delivered at a desired signal rate.

This invention relates to a roll-off filter apparatus incorporated in a data transmission system using a time-division multiplexing technique.
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a prior art roll-off filter apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, a data input terminal 1 is connected to a switch 2. Data buffers 3 and 4 are connected to the data input terminal 1 through the switch 2 and are also connected to a filter 7 through a switch 5. A ramp pattern generator 6 is connected to the filter 7 through the switch 5. A signal output terminal 8 is connected to the filter 7.
Referring also to FIG. 1, a signal having a frequency fi/M (M: an integer) is supplied to each of the data buffers 3, 4 and the ramp pattern generator 6, and signals having frequencies fi and fo are supplied to both of the data buffers 3 and 4.
The operation of the prior art roll-off filter apparatus having the structure shown in FIG. 1 will now be described. Digital data applied as an input to the data input terminal 1 at a data transmission rate of fi bits/sec are alternately supplied to the data buffers 3 and 4 through the switch 2 at the speed fo with the period of fi/M. The data stored in the data buffers 3 and 4 are alternately read out through the switch 5 at the speed fo and with the period fi/M, and, after the ramp signal generated from the ramp pattern generator 6 is added to both ends of each data block corresponding to one frame, the data signal is passed through the filter 7 before it appears as a data output signal from the signal output terminal 8. FIG. 2 shows the waveforms of the input and output signals in the case of the prior art roll-off filter apparatus.
Thus, a burst-like signal having its band limited by the roll-off filter characteristic can be produced from the prior art roll-off filter apparatus too.
However, the prior art roll-off filter apparatus has had such practical problems that the two data buffers 3 and 4 are inevitably required and that an attempt to use a filter, such as, a switched capacitor filter or a digital filter in place of the filter 7 leads to a great amount of power consumption due to the wide signal bandwidth.

Matsushita Electric Industrail Co., Ltd.


A color selecting apparatus for a cathode-ray tube including a frame, and a mask supported in the frame with tension along a minor axis, where the mask having a rectangular hole part formed with a plurality of electron beam-passing apertures, a non-hole part surrounding the hole part, and a pair of vibration attenuating members attached at both ends of the surface of the non-hole part, facing each other along a major axis, for attenuating vibration waves which transmit along the major axis. The vibration attenuating members are made of a metal having a greater mass than the non-hole part, and attached by spot-welding so that they are away from the non-hole part by a predetermined gap at every portion except the welding points. Therefore, the vibration attenuating members serve as a damper to attenuate vibrations which are transmit in the major direction, particularly vibrations generated by the speakers.

This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7 119 from an application entitled A Colour Selecting Apparatus for Cathode Ray Tube earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jan. 31, 2000, and there duly assigned Ser. No. 2000-4680 by that Office.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color selecting apparatus for a cathode-ray tube, and more particularly, to a color selecting apparatus having a tensed mask, which includes a pair of vibration attenuating members for preventing the so-called howling phenomenon due to vibrations of the mask.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, a cathode-ray tube is used for displaying an image by emitting light on a phosphor screen with electron beams generated from an electron gun assembly. The cathode-ray tube includes a shadow mask as a color selecting electrode for separating three electron beams to corresponding red (R), green (G) and blue (B) phosphor layers on the screen.
The shadow mask is made by forming a plurality of beam-passing apertures on a thin aluminium-killed (AK) steel or an INVAR steel by the well-known photolithography process. Killed steel is deoxidized by the addition of deoxidizing elements such as aluminum in the ladle prior to ingot casting to form aluminum-killed steel. INVAR steel is a trademark for a steel alloy containing approximately 36% to 50% nickel (Ni) and the rest iron (Fe). INVAR steel has a low coefficient of thermal expansion.
The shadow mask is apt to be depressed due to an external impact since the shadow mask is formed in an extremely thin thickness over a relatively wide area with beam-passing apertures, decreasing the strength thereof. Further, the so-called doming phenomenon, which refers to the expansion toward the phosphor screen due to the continuous radiation of electron beams, may occur in the shadow mask.
If the shadow mask is deformed or the doming phenomenon occurs as described above, the positions of the beam-passing apertures are altered so that precise color separation of the electron beams is disturbed, and thereby the degree of purity of the images is degraded.
Therefore, in order to overcome the above defects and to meet the tendencies toward the super flat screen, a tensed mask that is supported in a frame with tension force has been suggested.
A tensed mask includes a hole part formed with a plurality of beam-passing apertures, and a non-hole part positioned to surround four edges of the hole part. The tensed mask is spot-welded on the frame and supported by the frame with tension applied on the mask. The tensed mask constructed as above is especially appropriate to a flat screen and has advantages in that thermal expansion is restrained by the tension force and accordingly the doming phenomenon is effectively prevented.
However, the tensed mask is sensitive to vibration and has disadvantages in that vibration is apt to be generated due to not only external vibration energy, but also an external energy applied by the complex influence exerted by the spot-welding state with the frame, the thickness of the mask itself, and the alignment of the beam-passing apertures 1a, etc. Such vibrations continue for a long period, for example about 10 minutes, due to the influence of sound waves coming out from the speakers.
The phenomenon that degrades the quality of the images due to the long-term vibration of the tensed mask caused by the external energy is the so-called howling phenomenon. The howling phenomenon is generated at both right and left sides of the tensed mask, that are near the speakers, and generally disposed at both sides of the screen, producing sounds.
The howling phenomenon is usually generated in one part of a tensed mask positioned approximately 5 millimeters within both the right and left edges of the hole part, degrading the purity of colors at both right and left ends of the screen.
Exemplars of the art are U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,557 issued to Teramoto et al. discloses Method for Manufacturing a Shadow Mask, U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,074 issued to Deibler et al. discloses Method for Manufacturing a Shadow Mask, U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,833 issued to Tong discloses Shadow Mask Damping for Color CRT, U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,682 issued to Murai et al. discloses Color Cathode Ray Tube Having Shadow Mask with Prescribed Bridge Widths, U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,132 issued to Nose et al. discloses Color Cathode Ray Tube, U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,535 issued to Jung et al. discloses Shadow Mask Frame Assembly for a Cathode Ray Tube, U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,676 issued to Ohama et al discloses Cathode Ray Tube Having Improved Curvature Characteristics and Method of Fabrication Thereof, U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,273 issued to Watanabe et al. discloses Color Cathode-Ray Tube Including a Shadow Mask having Holes Arranged with a Monotonically Non-Decreasing Arrangement Pitch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,021 issued to Jeon et al. discloses Howling Phenomena Removing Apparatus for Video Display Appliances, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,080 issued to Park discloses Mask Frame Damper for Color Cathode Ray Tubes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a color selecting apparatus for a cathode-ray tube that is capable of preventing the so-called howling phenomenon by attenuating vibrations applied to a tensed mask, especially vibrations generated by speakers.
It is another object to have a strong frame structure surrounding a mask in an electron beam apparatus.
It is yet another object to have an electron beam apparatus that reduces the howling phenomenon.
It is still yet another object to have a cathode-ray tube that can avoid the howling phenomenon and still be easily manufactured without heavily increasing manufacturing costs.
In order to achieve the above objects, the color selecting apparatus includes a frame, and a mask supported in the frame with tension along a minor axis, where the mask has a rectangular hole part formed with a plurality of electron beam-passing apertures, a non-hole part positioned surrounding the hole part, and a pair of vibration attenuating members attached at both ends of a surface of the non-hole part, facing each other along a major axis, for attenuating vibration waves that are transmitted on the major axis.
The vibration attenuating members are made of a metal having a greater mass than the non-hole part, and are attached by spot-welding so that they are away from the non-hole part by a predetermined gap in every portion except the welding points. Accordingly, the vibration attenuating members serve as dampers to attenuate vibrations which are transmitted in the major direction, particularly vibrations generated by the speakers, that are apt to cause the howling phenomenon.

Color selecting apparatus for cathode-ray tube


A rubber composition having (A) an elastomer component in which the primary elastomer constituent is an ethylene-propylene elastomer polymerized in the gas phase with a metallocene catalyst and having a molecular weight of at least about 250,000; (B) a silicon-modified olefinic elastomer in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 parts per hundred parts of the elastomer component; (C) ground mica in an amount of from about 2.5 to about 30 parts per hundred parts of the elastomer component; and (D) a peroxide curative. The composition may be used in a vibration isolator which may be used in a belt drive system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an EPDM rubber composition for vibration isolators and such dynamic articles using the composition, more particularly to a rubber composition comprising high-molecular-weight gas-phase metallocene EPDM, ground mica, and silicone-modified EPDM.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vibrations occur in vehicles, rotating or reciprocating machinery, and the like. Vibrations may be isolated, or absorbed or damped by appropriate placement of rubber members. The term "vibration isolation" will be used herein in its most general sense and is intended to encompass isolation, absorption, and damping of any of various modes of vibration, shock, or the like. "Vibration isolator" will be used herein for any kind of device for reducing, damping or absorbing vibration, shock, or associated noise or harshness or for isolating or preventing the transmission thereof from its source to another point in a dynamic system or to a user or observer.
Rubber for dynamic articles such as isolators and other dynamic applications of elastomers, must generally meet demanding physical requirements, such as tear strength, heat resistance, low compression set, flex fatigue, etc. Some of these properties tend to be in opposition, making improved rubber compounds difficult to achieve. For example, increased crosslink density of cured rubber generally helps reduce compression set, but also results in reduced tear strength. Natural rubber has been a preferred elastomer for isolators because of its high strength, but it is lacking in heat resistance.
Ethylene-alpha-olefin elastomers such as ethylene-propylene copolymers and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers ("EPDM") are general purpose synthetic elastomers known for good heat resistance, economical, easy to process, but low tear strength and poor dynamic fatigue resistance when compounded for low compression set and heat resistance, for example, by the use of peroxide cure systems. Use of EPDM in dynamic applications has been rather limited, especially for peroxide-cured EPDM. Peroxide-cured compositions suitable for belts are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,217. Peroxide-cured compositions suitable for rubber-metal bonded vibration isolators such as crank dampers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,078,104 and 7,166,678. Sulfur-cured compositions suitable for dynamic applications as a replacement for natural rubber parts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,693,145.
Silicone-modified EPDM is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,380,312 for use in oil resistant thermoplastic elastomer blends. Elastomeric blends of EPDM with silicone-modified EPDM are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,970 for the purpose of producing a tack-free surface on crosslinked EPDM products.
Mica is known for general use as a filler, especially in plastics, for specific use as non-conducting or insulating filler in elastomers or plastics, and for use as a dusting agent to prevent sticking of uncured rubber stocks, and the like. Mica is also known to adversely affect the fatigue life of carbon-black-filled or silica-filled elastomeric compounds.


Disclosed herein are devices and methods related to the production and measurements of amphiphilic molecule bilayers, which are useful in high throughput electrophysiological screening and ion channel measurement in bilayers. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Ion channels are present in every cell, playing key roles in a range of physiological processes, including cardiac and neural activity. Ion channel disorders have been implicated in epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, malaria, and a number of other diseases (Nilius, B. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Basis of Disease 1772, 805-812 (2007). Because of their central importance, ion channels are intensely studied scientifically and are critical targets for drugs (Molokanova, M. et al. Drug Discovery Today 13, 14-22 (2008)) as well as the subject of safety concerns for off-target drug interactions (e.g., hERG cardiac K+ channels) (Keating, M. T. et al. Cell 104, 569-580 (2001)).
Electrophysiological measurements of ion channels are complicated by the requirement that they must be incorporated into a lipid bilayer membrane to pass ionic current. These currents can be measured using the techniques of Patch Clamp (primarily used to measure ion channels in cells) or artificial lipid bilayers. Manual patch clamp is regarded as the gold standard for in vitro measurement of ion channels (Dunlop, J., et al., Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 7, 358-368 (2008); Hertzberg, R. P. et al. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology 4, 445-451 (2000), but despite its high quality data, patch clamp's low throughput and high equipment and skill requirements have limited its use to specialists. Ion channel drug screening in industry uses automated patch clamp (APC), an arrayed and automated version of manual patch clamp, which has increased measurement throughput, but is characterized by limited cell compatibility and very high instrumentation and consumable costs, also strongly limiting its use (Comley, J., Drug Discovery World, 47-57 (2003).
In vitro measurement of ion channels in artificial lipid bilayers is well-established for their isolation and study at the single molecule level (Wong, D., Nanotechnology 17, 3710-3717 (2006)) and uses electrical apparatus highly similar to patch clamp (Miller, C. Ion channel reconstitution. (Plenum Press, New York; 1986); Sakmann, B. & Neher, E. (eds.) Single-channel recording. (Plenum Press, New York; 1995)). Artificial bilayers are formed from constituent lipids and will reconstitute ion channels following addition of soluble channels or channel-containing vesicles to the surrounding membrane solution (Miller, C. Ion channel reconstitution. (Plenum Press, New York; 1986)). Ion channel measurement with cell-free artificial bilayers has a number of advantages over patch clamp including reduced equipment and training required and the ability to easily control the membrane composition and surrounding solution. Unfortunately, like patch clamp, it is a manual, low throughput measurement platform suited for specialists.
Electrophysiological activity of ion channels can be measured directly using cell-based patch clamp and cell-free artificial lipid bilayers. However, it is well recognized that these labor intensive platforms also require considerable technical expertise, severely limiting the potential user population as well as the scope and type of measurements that can be conducted. Studies of ion channels and transmembrane proteins in planar lipid bilayer membranes allow for functionality testing in highly controlled environments. Applications ranging from drug interaction testing to mutational studies have been demonstrated. Fully automatable formation and measurement of functional planar lipid bilayers have been shown using the contacting monolayer technique; automated formation of such 'droplet' lipid bilayers having consistent and repeatable sizes, however, has not been demonstrated. Further, the ability to perfuse such bilayers during measurement has not been shown.
Reconstitution of ion channels into artificial lipid bilayer membranes enables the isolation and study of individual channels as well as a high degree of control over the membrane composition and surrounding solution. Formation of artificial lipid bilayers from the contact of lipid monolayers self-assembled on oil/aqueous interfaces (Tsofina L M 1966) has been implemented in microfluidic devices (Funakoshi K 2006; Malmstadt 2006) and discrete droplet systems, (Holden M A 2007; Bayley H 2008; Poulos J L 2009) and has been the subject of much recent activity due to its compatibility with automated and parallel implementations (Poulos J L 2009; Poulos J L 2010; Thapliyal 2010) and capability to measure ion channels incorporated directly from primary cells or organelles (Leptihn S 2011).
It was previously shown that bilayer areas are highly sensitive to variations in positioning of the two aqueous phases (Heron A J 2007; Poulos J L 2010), which can in turn affect number of incorporated channels (Leptihn S 2011) and measurement noise (Wonderlin W F 1990; Mayer M 2003).
Thus, there exists a need for devices and methods for producing and measuring artificial bilayers. Such devices and methods are described herein.

Masking apertures enabling automation and solution exchange in sessile bilayers

The Regents of the University of California


Disclosed is a method for treatment of external secretion disorders, which comprises administering a fatty 5 acid derivative to a subject in need of said treatment. The method of the present invention is useful for treatment of at least one condition selected from hypolacrimation including disorder of basal tear secretion, dry-eye syndrome, hyposalivation and dry-mouth syndrome.

External secretions are discharges that are discharged directly from the exocrine glandular cells or through the excretory ducts or the like onto the body surface or into a lumen. Tear and saliva are the typical external secretions and secretions from the nasal or the respiratory tract mucosa, secretions from the stomach or the intestine, discharges from the vagina, perspiration, etc are also included. Conditions resulting from external secretion disorders include dryness of various parts of the body such as "dry-eye syndrome" (xerophthalmia), "dry-mouth syndrome" (xerostomia), "dry nose syndrome" (xeromycteria), "dry-skin syndrome" (xeroderma), and "dry-vagina syndrome" (symptom of vaginal dryness); and chronic pancreatitis, chronic gastritis, and chronic bronchitis due to depression of the external secretion.
"Sjögren's syndrome", an autoimmune disease, is one of the variety of known and unknown etiologic factors which may responsible for external secretion disorders. Sjögren's syndrome is characterized by dryness condition due to infiltration of inflammatory cells into the acinus of the exocrine gland and around the excretory duct, which results in destruction and atrophy of the acinus and the epithelial cells of the duct. Typical symptoms include eye and mouth dryness, as well as dryness of skin, nose, throat, bronchia, vulva, and vagina. For example, dryness of the respiratory tract may induce infections in the lung and sometimes may cause serious disorders such as pneumonia that may lead to death. The other major etiology is aging. Although the external secretion disorders may cause serious diseases as mentioned above, merely symptomatic treatment methods such as artificial hydration have been available for the disorders so far. Therefore, development of a fundamental treatment to improve the depressed external secretion has been desired.
One of the diseases caused by the external secretion disorders, and which has been a current keen interest in the medical and pharmaceutical field, is hypolacrimation including dry-eye syndrome.
Dry-eye syndrome is defined as a condition with decrease or change in quality of tear irrespective of the presence or absence of corneal and conjunctival lesion (Yamada et al., GANKI 43, 1289-1293(1992)). It include dry-eye conditions found in the patients of hypolacrimation, alacrima, xerophthalmia, Sjögren's syndrome, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, ocular pemphigoid, blepharitis marginal, and diabetes, etc.; post-cataract surgery dry eye; allergic conjunctivitis-associated dry eye; and age-related dry-eye syndrome. Further, dry-eye also includes the conditions found in hypolacrimation patients induced by long time visual display terminal (VDT) operations, room dryness due to air-conditioning and the like.
There are various etiologies of the dry-eye syndrome, including the above described and that have unidentified. However, at present, only palliative treatments for the dry-eye syndrome including administering an artificial tear solution to increase the quantity of tear retained within the conjunctival sac thereby relieve the subjective symptoms or protecting the eyes from dryness have been available. It has been desired to provide compositions which is capable of bringing satisfactory treatment, including improvement of hypolacrimation.
The tear secretion is classified into basal tear secretion and reflex tear secretion. Basal tear secretion is that under ordinary conditions with the eyelid open, and is considered being mainly from the accessory lacrimal glands e.g. Kraus gland and Wolfring gland. On the other hand, reflux tear secretion is tear secretion in response to some stimulation in the keratoconjunctival surface, nasal mucosa, or the like, or that accompanied with mental changes such as grief or joy. It is considered to be from the main lacrimal gland. Considering the symptoms of the dry-eye syndrome, improvement of the decreased basal tear secretion, i.e. tear secretion under ordinary conditions with the eyelid open, is particularly important.
Further, the diseases caused by external secretion disorders also include hyposalivation, and it may be sometimes accompanied by dry-mouth syndrome (xerostomia). In dry-mouth patients, the decreased amount of saliva secretion causes dryness of the lip and oral cavity and may induce thirst feeling, xerosis of tunica mucosa oris, urtication, dysmaesesis, and dyspepsia. Also, in the patients with dry-mouth syndrome, foods are likely to remain inside the mouth and may result in dental caries.
There are a variety of etiologic factors which are responsible for the dry-mouth syndrome. For example, systemic factors include febrile disease, dehydration, endocrinopathy (myxedema, Basedow's disease, diabetes insipidus, etc.) metabolic disorders (diabetes, uremia, liver cirrhosis, etc.) deficiency of Vitamin-A, B, autoimmune disease (Sjögren's syndrome, progressive scleroderma, etc.) anemia, bleeding, aging, various medicaments (sedatives, parasympatholytic drugs, antihistamines, etc.). Local factors include sialadenitis, atrophy of salivary gland, sequela of radio therapy, and malformation (ectodermal dysplasia, etc.)
As described above, there are a variety of known and unknown etiologic factors responsible for the dry-mouth syndrome. However, at present, only palliative treatments for the dry-mouth syndrome such as drinking liquid all day long little by little, chewing gum or the like, and using artificial saliva have been available. It has been desired to provide a composition which is capable of bringing fundamental treatment such that to improve the decreased saliva secretion.
Generally, a healthy normal person discharges 1 to 1.5 litter of saliva a day through a pair of left and right major salivary glands (including parotid gland, submandibular gland, and sublingual gland) and minor salivary glands (including labial glands, lingual glands, palatine glands, and buccal glands). Saliva is discharged in response to a stimulant which may harm body to dilute the same or to maintain the physiological pH value, as well as helping mastication and deglutition of foods. Further, saliva dissolves foods thereby makes a person taste them and helps him smoothly utter words by keeping a wet state inside the mouth. There are two types of saliva: one is the continuous type that keeps on discharging a small amount without a particular stimulant and the other is the reflective type that is discharged in response to stimulation by food, gnatho-movement, taste and the like. In any case, saliva secretion is one of the essential physiological functions and hence improving the decreased saliva secretion is particularly important in treating the dry-mouth syndrome.
In the past, some of fatty acids had been rated as essential, and enough amount of them were required to be taken from the nutrient point of view. Recently, bioactivities of a variety of fatty acids have been studied and the activities of linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have attracted the attention linoleic acid is converted through di-homo-γ-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid; α-linolenic acid is converted through eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); di-homo-γ-linolenic acid is converted into type 1 prostaglandin (PG1), arachidonic acid is converted into type 2 prostaglandin (PG2) or type 4 leukotriene (LT4), and eicosapentaenoic acid is converted into type 3 prostaglandin or type 5 leukotriene (LT5) in vivo respectively.
Prostaglandins (hereinafter, referred to as PG(s)) are members of class of organic carboxylic acids, which are contained in tissues or organs of human or most other mammalian, and exhibit a wide range of physiological activity. PGs found in nature (primary PGs) generally have a prostanoic acid skeleton as shown in the formula (A):

On the other hand, some of synthetic analogues have a modified skeleton. The primary PGs are classified to PGAs, PGBs, PGCs, PGDs, PGES, PGFs, PGGs, PGHs, PGIs and PGJs according to the structure of the five-membered ring moiety, and further classified into the following three types by the number and position of the unsaturated bond at the carbon chain moiety:    subscript 1: 13,14-unsaturated-15-OH    subscript 2: 5,6- and 13,14-diunsaturated-15-OH    subscript 3: 5,6-, 13,14-, and 17,18-triunsaturated-15-OH.
Further, the PGFs are classified, according to the configuration of the hydroxyl group at the 9-position, into α type (the hydroxyl group is of an α-configuration) and β type (the hydroxyl group is of a β-configuration).
In addition, some 15-keto (i.e. having an oxo group at position 15 in place of the hydroxy group) prostaglandins and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandins are known as substances naturally produced by enzymatic actions during in vivo metabolism of primary PGs. 15-keto PGs have been disclosed in, for example, EP-A-0281239(corresponds to JP-A-104040/89), EP-A-0281480(corresponds to JP-A-52753/89), EP-A-0289349 (corresponds to JP-A-151552/89), EP-A-0453127(JP-A-58992/95) and EP-A-0690049(corresponds to JP-A-48665/96). These cited references are herein incorporated by reference.
For example, when a primary type PG such as PGE2 or PGF2α which is a fatty acid derivative is instilled to the eyes at a stimulating amount which induces conjunctival hyperemia, lacrimation will occur simultaneously with the hyperemia. However, at an amount as low as that does not induce any conjunctival hyperemia, it is not known about the effect of the fatty acid derivatives including PGs on the tear secretion, basal tear secretion which is not affected by a stimulant, nor saliva secretion.

Compound for treatment of external secretion disorders


A system for acquiring access to a web-based application includes one or more computer-readable storage media and an application (e.g., a web browser) for accessing and retrieving over a network a plurality of resources. The system also includes a program interface embodied on the one or more computer-readable storage media. The program interface is configured to present a common set of application program interfaces (APIs) that can be used by the application to demonstrate that a user of the application is entitled to access a first resource. The system also includes programming logic configured to determine if the user of the application is authorized to access the first resource. If it is determined that authorization has not been established to access the first resource, the application is directed to communicate with a marketplace to obtain authorization to access the first resource.

Web-based applications are becoming more and more common. One type of web-based application is applications that reside on a server and which are accessed as a service using a web-browser executed on a client device. Such web-based applications are sometimes referred to as hosted web applications. Another type of web-based applications is applications that are downloaded and installed into the web-browser on the client device. Such web-based applications are sometimes referred to as packaged applications.
The line between conventional applications and web-based applications is beginning to blur significantly, particularly with the deployment of HTML5. Using HTML5 and an appropriate browser, a developer can deliver to a user full-fidelity applications with services that previously were only available from installed applications (i.e., locally stored data and application code having local access to devices). Accordingly, application delivery is shifting from a download/install mechanism to a web browser distributed mechanism.
Today, mobile applications for mobile computing platforms are typically monetized via a marketplace, where users are charged a fee before downloading and installing an application. This mechanism is usually tied to the mobile platform itself, which provides the marketplace application and connects to a back-end service where payment is made and the application is distributed. With web-based applications, however, such a marketplace process is not readily available. As a consequence, the individual application providers are left to provide for themselves the key marketplace services of monetization, reputation building, advertising, and so on. Such application providers usually have to tie directly into another service to collect a fee for the use of their web-based applications, which then eliminates the key marketplace advantages of a unified, easy billing mechanism for users as well as billing alternatives such as mobile operator billing.

Client services for web-based applications


Provided are a functional molded article having sufficient flexibility and moldability and also sufficiently having the function of a functional particle, and a method for producing the same. The functional molded article is formed by molding a mixture containing a functional particle, a binder, and a fibrous substance. The method for producing the functional molded article essentially comprises a step of molding a mixture of a functional particle, a binder, and a fibrous substance, wherein the fibrous substance is obtained from a fibrous material which is formed into the fibrous substance by mechanical force applied in the process of obtaining the mixture, or essentially comprises a step of molding a mixture of a functional particle, a binder, and a fibrous substance, wherein the mixture is obtained by mixing the functional particle with the binder to form a premix and further mixing the premix with the fibrous substance or a fibrous material which is formed into the fibrous substance by mechanical force applied in the process of obtaining the mixture.

A substance obtained by binding functional particles having functionalities such as heat conductivity, electrical conductivity, magnetism, a dielectric property, a gas barrier property and the like by a binder and molding the same is widely known in general.
In the above, however, there has been such a problem that heat insulation or insulation is caused and the characteristics of the functional particles are inhibited if the quantity of the binder is large while flexibility, moldability etc. of an obtained functional molded article are reduced if the quantity of the binder is merely reduced.
In the meantime, there is also known a technique (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example) of blending functional particles into a fibrous substance, while no binder is employed in this technique and hence no inhibition of functionalities by a binder takes place. In a functional molded article obtained in this manner, however, there has been such a problem that the substance is torn or a fall of the functional particles takes place.
As another prior art of the functional molded article, there is known a functional molded article characterized in that functional particles are fixed to a porous body by fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), although this is a technique different in a point of fixing the functional particles to a substrate consisting of the porous body thereby supplying functionalities from the aforementioned prior art employing no such substrate (refer to Patent Literature 2). According to this technique, it is assumed that a large quantity of functional powder is fixed to the porous body by a three-dimensional network structure of PTFE converted to a fine fibrous substance having adhesiveness due to the fibrillation and hence the whole surface of the functional powder is not covered with PTFE, the functions of the functional powder are not damaged, the functions of the functional powder are sufficiently exhibited with respect to a substance passing through the inner portion of the functional material or coming into contact with the functional material, and the functional powder does not easily fall in production or use of the functional material.
Similarly, there is also known a functional molded article characterized in that functional powder is fixed to a porous body by a mixture consisting of a binder and microfibril cellulose (MFC) as a technique employing a porous body (refer to Patent Literature 3). According to this technique, it is assumed that the functional powder is fixed to the porous body and a fall of the functional powder is reliably prevented due to adhesive force of the binder and bonding force and intertwining force of the microfibril of MFC, while the microfibril of MFC forms a three-dimensional netlike structure, incorporates the powder thereinto and maintains high porosity, and hence the surface of the functional powder is not covered with a film of the binder, and the functions of the functional powder are not damaged.
The aforementioned techniques are techniques of fixing functional particles to porous bodies and essentially employ porous bodies such as unwoven fabric, and hence the functional molded articles in these techniques have been poor in flexibility.
While a binder is common to a fibrous substance described later in a function of capturing functional particles as viewed in the examples of the prior art described above, the term "binder" does not include a fibrous substance in the present invention, after the conventional illustration. Further, a term "capturing material" is employed when generically referring to the two on the basis of common capturing functions of the two.

Functional molded article and method for producing same


A lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; an epitaxial semiconductor layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate; a gate structure disposed over the epitaxial semiconductor layer; a first doped region disposed in the epitaxial semiconductor layer at a first side of the gate structure; a second doped region disposed in the epitaxial semiconductor layer at a second side of the gate structure; a third doped region disposed in the first doped region; a fourth doped region disposed in the second doped region; a trench formed in the third doped region, the first doped region and the epitaxial semiconductor layer under the first doped region; a conductive contact formed in the trench; and a fifth doped region disposed in the epitaxial semiconductor layer under the trench.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit (IC) devices, and in particular to a lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, due to the rapid development of communication devices such as mobile communication devices and personal communication devices, wireless communication products such as mobile phones and base stations have been greatly developed. In wireless communication products, high-voltage elements of lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) devices are often used as radio frequency (900 MHz-2.4 GHz) related elements therein.
LDMOS devices not only have a higher operating frequency, but they are also capable of sustaining a higher breakdown voltage, thereby having a high output power so that they can be used as power amplifiers in wireless communication products. In addition, due to the fact that LDMOS devices can be formed by conventional CMOS fabrications, LDMOS devices can be fabricated from a silicon substrate which is relatively cost-effective and employs mature fabrication techniques.
In FIG. 1, a schematic cross section showing a conventional N-type lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device applicable in a radio frequency (RF) circuit element is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the N-type LDMOS device mainly comprises a P+ type semiconductor substrate 100, a P− type epitaxial semiconductor layer 102 formed over the P+ type semiconductor substrate 100, and a gate structure G formed over a portion of the P− type epitaxial semiconductor layer 102. A P− type doped region 104 is disposed in the P− type epitaxial semiconductor layer 102 under the gate structure G and a portion of the P− type epitaxial semiconductor layer 102 under the left side of the gate structure G, and an N− type drift region 106 is disposed in a portion of the P− type epitaxial semiconductor layer 102 under the right side of the gate structure G. A P+ type doped region 130 and an N+ type doped region 110 are disposed in a portion of the P type doped region 104, and the P+ doped region 130 partially contacts a portion of the N+ type doped region 110, thereby functioning as a contact region (e.g. P+ type doped region 130) and a source region (e.g. N+ type doped region 110) of the N type LDMOS device, respectively, and another N+ type doped region 108 is disposed in a portion of the P− type epitaxial semiconductor layer 102 at the right side of the N− type drift region 106 to function as a drain region of the N type LDMOS device. In addition, an insulating layer 112 is formed over the gate structure G, covering sidewalls and a top surface of the gate structure G and partially covering the N+ type doped regions 108 and 110 adjacent to the gate structure G. Moreover, the N type LDMOS further comprises a P+ type doped region substantially disposed in a portion of the P− type epitaxial semiconductor layer 102 under the N+ type doped region 110 and the P− type doped region 104 under the N+ type doped region 110. The P+ type doped region 120 physically connects the P− type doped region 104 with the P+ type semiconductor substrate 100.
During operation of the N type LDMOS device shown in FIG. 1, due to the formation of the P+ type doped region 120, currents (not shown) from the drain side (e.g. N+ type doped region 108) laterally flow through a channel (not shown) underlying the gate structure G towards a source side (e.g. N+ type doped region 110), and are then guided by the P− type doped region 104 and the P+ type doped region 120, thereby arriving at the P+ type semiconductor substrate 100, such that problems such as inductor coupling and cross-talk between adjacent circuit elements can be avoided. However, the formation of the P+ type doped region 120 requires the performance of ion implantations of high doping concentrations and high doping energies and thermal diffusion processes with a relatively high temperature above about 900° C., and a predetermined distance D1 is kept between the gate structure G and the N+ type doped region 110 at the left side of the gate structure G to ensure good performance of the N type LDMOS device. Therefore, formation of the P+ type doped region 120 and the predetermined distance D1 kept between the gate structure G and the N+ type doped region 110 increase the on-state resistance (Ron) of the N type LDMOS device and a dimension of the N type LDMOS device, which is unfavorable for further reduction of both the fabrication cost and the dimensions of the N type LDMOS device.

Lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same

VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION


A switch remoting system for extending the function of an existing wired switch in a residence or other building, so that, in its extended function, the switch controls AC power available at one or more additional AC outlets. The basic system comprises two plug-in modules including a control unit and a remote switching unit. The control unit is plugged into an AC outlet controlled by the switch whose function is being extended. When that switch is actuated, the AC power transition and the resulting "on" or "off" power state is sensed and corresponding encoded switching control signals are generated and relayed to the remote switching unit. There, the switching control signals are decoded, and actuate an internal AC switch that controls AC power to an integral AC outlet receptacle in the remote switching unit. A lamp or other device plugged into the AC receptacle of the remote switching unit is thereby switch controlled by action of the switch whose function is being extended.

The present invention relates generally to electrical switches, and more particularly, to a remote switching system that permits remote turn-on and turn-off of an electrical outlet using existing conventional wall switches.
This invention is intended to be used with the electrical wiring system of a residence or other building. In particular, it is the purpose of this invention to provide a means, without any wiring change, for extending the function of an already existing switch, such as a wall switch, to the new function of switching the electrical power available at one or more additional already existing electrical outlets.
In the electrical system of a residence or other building, (e.g., 120 or 220 volt AC), the electrical wiring of that system is relatively permanent in that any significant functional change to that wiring system typically entails access through wall surfaces to the wiring and oftentimes access above the ceiling or below the floor in order to perform rerouting of the wiring. A frequent need for such a wiring change is to extend the function of an existing wall switch (or equivalent switching device) so that, in its new function, it switches electrical power at one or more additional existing electrical outlets. The wiring rerouting entailed in such a change is a significant undertaking.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,862 discloses a remote AC power control system. Its basic system configuration includes a control unit, and a companion plug-in remote receiving unit. That system is not intended to extend the function of an existing AC switch. Instead, its purpose is to provide a separate control unit having one or more integral push buttons to control the AC power available from a switched AC outlet integral to the companion plug-in remote receiving unit.
The control unit of this system incorporates one or more user-selectable push (selector) buttons, and, in one embodiment, the control unit incorporates an AC power cord that is plugged into a convenient AC outlet. The remote receiving unit is plugged into an AC outlet where remotely controlled switched AC power is desired. Incorporated into that remote receiving unit is an integral switched AC outlet receptacle into which a lamp or other device can be plugged. In this control unit, encoded switching control signals generated therein are relayed as a modulated carrier frequency via the AC power line to the companion remote receiving unit for control of AC power available from that remote receiving unit's integral AC outlet receptacle.
This system also includes a variant wherein the control unit is battery-powered from an internal battery, and therefore is highly portable. That version of the control unit utilizes a low power transmitter to relay encoded switching control signals to an auxiliary relay unit. The auxiliary relay unit serves an intermediate function, as will be described below.
When one of the buttons on the battery-powered control unit is user-actuated, a corresponding encoded switching control signal is generated and transmitted by its internal low power RF transmitter to the auxiliary relay unit. That auxiliary unit is also plugged into another AC outlet and receives and demodulates the encoded switching control signals. These demodulated signals are then remodulated onto a lower frequency carrier and relayed over the AC power line on to a remote receiving unit. That auxiliary relay unit also incorporates an integral switched AC outlet receptacle responsive to the switching control signals received from the control unit.
All of these units provide user-selection (unit code selection) of the detail of the encoding of the switching control signals thereby circumventing interference with other nearby units. Encoding detail is also changed to prevent ambiguity in the switch-on and switch-off control signals sent to the remote switching unit. In some versions of this system, means are also included for dimming (as well as switching) a lamp plugged into the integral switched AC outlet of the remote receiving unit.
Another variant of the above-described AC power control system uses a control unit of the type described above to remotely switch the AC power at an existing already switched AC outlet. This variant circumvents the need for a plug-in remote receiving unit at that AC outlet. Instead, in this system variant, the wall switch of an existing AC outlet is removed and replaced by a new switching device that incorporates its own switch to replace the one that is removed. The new switching device responds to switching control signals relayed over the AC line from the control unit and switches power to the wired switched AC outlet. The switch built into the new switching device can also be used to turn on or off the AC outlet the same as before the change.
Although the latter system variant provides an additional means for controlling the AC power to an existing already wired AC outlet, it requires removal and disconnection of the AC wiring to the existing switch, replacing that switch with the new switch-mounted switching device having its own switch, and reconnecting the AC wiring thereto.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,239,205 and 5,340,954 also disclose a system for providing a remote AC power switching function. It is a two-unit system in which one unit includes a separate switch control unit incorporating its own toggle switch. Its companion remote switching unit is plugged into a remote AC outlet, and incorporates an integral switched AC outlet receptacle into which a lamp or other device to be switched is plugged. Switching control signals in the form of a short-duration modulated RF carrier are transmitted from the switch control unit via a low power wireless RF link to the remote switching unit. Internal battery power is utilized to supply the circuits in the switch control unit.
The toggle switch on the switch control unit has a single set of momentary contacts that close only at the center of each switch transition from one end position to the other. Closure of the momentary contacts initiates the transmission of a switching control signal in the form of a short-duration modulated RF carrier over the RF link.
In one embodiment, the companion remote switching unit is plugged into an existing AC outlet and has incorporated therein an integral switched AC outlet receptacle into which can be plugged a lamp to be switch controlled. In that remote switching unit, an RF receiver is utilized to detect and demodulate the RF burst comprising the switching control signals. Each receipt of that switching control signal toggles between an "on" and "off" state the AC power to its integral switched AC outlet receptacle. In another embodiment of that system, the remote switching unit is configured to screw into a lamp socket and incorporates an integral socket to accommodate the lamp bulb.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,239,205 and 5,340,954, modulation frequencies and carrier frequencies utilized for relaying the switching control signals between the switch control unit and the remote switching unit are set at manufacture. Therefore, if more than one switch control unit and remote switching unit pair is to be operated nearby to another pair, it is necessary to select each pair so that their modulation and/or carrier frequencies do not duplicate and thereby interfere with those of another pair.
Also, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,239,205 and 5,340,954, an identical switching control signal is transmitted to the companion remote switching unit for the "switch on" and "switch off" commands, and a delay of a minimum of 1 second must lapse after the switch is toggled before the switch is toggled again, otherwise the system will not operate properly, i.e., the system can become "out of synch" so that the end positions of the switch toggle may become reversed in function. Because of this limitation, the switch toggle position does not provide a sure indication of whether AC power is on or off at the outlet receptacle of the remote switching unit.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for a remote switching system that permits remote turn-on and turn-off of an electrical outlet using existing conventional wall switches, and that overcome the limitations of the above-described conventional systems.


An electro-acoustic sensing device including a sensing chip, a carrier chip and a sealing element is provided. The sensing chip is for electro-acoustic transuding and thereby outputting an electrical signal. The carrier chip disposed below the sensing chip has at least one second connecting point, at least one electrical channel and at least one channel connecting point. The second connecting point is electrically contacted with the first connecting point. The second connecting point and the channel connecting point are located at different surfaces of the carrier chip. The electrical channel passes through the carrier chip and electrically connects the second connecting point and the channel connecting point. The electrical signal is transmitted to the channel connecting point via the first and the second connecting points and the electrical channel. The sealing element is disposed between the sensing chip and the carrier chip for air-tight coupling the two chips.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an electro-acoustic sensing device, and more particularly to a capacitive electro-acoustic sensing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, consumer electronic products have won great popularity on the market, and various electronic products are widely used in modern people's everyday life. As electronic products are directed towards multi-function and small size, manufacturers are engaged in providing products with better integration and lower costs. Many consumer electronic products, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital voice recorders and portable digital music players, adopt micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone and speaker for providing better quality of reception and amplification.
One of the commonly used structures of micro-electro-mechanical system microphone is a system in package (SIP) structure, in which multiple chips are installed. Please refer to FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of a conventional micro-electro-mechanical system microphone is shown. In a micro-electro-mechanical system microphone 100, independent elements such as the acoustic wave sensing chip 110, the circuit chip 130 and the surface mount component 150 are respectively disposed on the substrate 170. The protection cover 190 is disposed on the substrate 170 and covers the elements such as acoustic wave sensing chip 110, the circuit chip 130 and the surface mount element 150. The protection cover 190 has a sound entering hole 190a via which the sound signal enters the protection cover 190 and contacts the acoustic wave sensing chip 110. In the micro-electro-mechanical system microphone 100, the acoustic wave sensing chip 110, the circuit chip 130 and the surface mount component 150 are installed on the substrate 170 by way of wire-bonding. The structure and manufacturing process of the micro-electro-mechanical system microphone 100 are complicated, so the manufacturing cost is hard to bring down.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A control system and method for detecting variable load types and controlling the operation of a PTO clutch to effect engagement of the clutch with variable loads, and especially to more optimally effect the engagement of a clutch with a very light load or an associated over-running clutch is disclosed. The control system includes a controller that receives input and output clutch shaft speed signals and generates control signals to control the pressure applied by the clutch. If no appreciable engine droop is detected at the time of initial movement of the output clutch shaft, the load is considered to be of a very light load type, and a set of control signals based upon such load type designation, which control signals define a control curve that is flatter and more gentle than would otherwise be considered desirable, is thereafter applied to the clutch to effect engagement of the load.

PTOs are used on many types of vehicles, including on agricultural vehicles such as tractors, to provide power for equipment or implements, such as, for agricultural purposes, combines, mowers, balers, forage harvesters and spreaders.
Modern tractors commonly have horsepower ratings in excess of 100 horsepower. However, the shaft sizes for PTOs have not changed due to the need to maintain compatibility with older equipment and maintain the standardization for PTOs. Thus, the torque output of PTOs for many modern tractors is no longer limited by the tractor horsepower. Rather, the torque output is limited by the strength of the PTO shaft and the failure thereof. In addition to causing PTO shaft failures, the torque produced by the high horsepower tractors can accelerate equipment attached to the respective PTO at a rate which can damage the equipment.
In view of the problems associated with the control of PTO shafts in high horsepower tractors, it was found desirable to provide a PTO clutch control system for protecting PTO shafts from catastrophic failure and for providing PTO shaft accelerations at rates which protect the shafts and attached equipment during clutch engagement.
Typical of such a system is the system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,142, which discloses a PTO control system for vehicles, such as farm tractors including a power take-off (PTO) shaft, for supplying rotational motion to an implement of the type which may be stationary or towed by the tractor. Power is transferred to the PTO shaft by a clutch including an input shaft coupled to a power source and an output shaft coupled to the PTO shaft. The clutch transmits a maximum torque between the input and output shafts in response to a maximum clutch pressure and transmits a variable torque between the input and output shafts in response to a given clutch engagement pressure that is less than the maximum clutch engagement pressure. Typically, a generally linear, gentle ramping up of current/pressure is employed to achieve smooth engagement.
The control system includes a first transducer disposed to generate an input signal representative of the rotational speed of the input shaft, a second transducer disposed to generate an output signal representative of the rotational speed of the output shaft, and a control circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the clutch control, the first transducer, and the second transducer.
While such a control system has been of great value and effectiveness, it and other control systems have continued to experience difficulties when attempts are made to drive PTOs under extreme conditions. With such systems, no differentiation was made with respect to the loads applied, be they very light or very heavy. With a light applied load, initial PTO shaft movement could occur at a relatively early time and the full shaft speed would be reached before a modulation is effectively executed. With a heavy load, however, initial PTO shaft movement would not occur until a later time, leaving very little time for modulation. Many systems sought a compromise under which load engagement worked reasonably well with intermediate loads, but less well with extreme situations, including situations where over-running clutches were associated with the PTO output shaft.
The strategy of employing a generally linear, ramping up of current/pressure to achieve smooth engagement, while generally relatively effective, nevertheless suffered from various shortcomings, especially under extreme load conditions, including use with associated over-running clutches.
The system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,189 addressed several of the remaining problems in greater detail, and explains in significant detail the problems encountered when over-running clutches are employed, including the possibility of placing undesirable stress on the PTO due to "locking delay" which occurs when the initially unengaged locking pins of an over-running clutch engage the locking notches thereof at a time subsequent to initial movement of the PTO output shaft. As was discussed therein, while the locking delay is of little concern at those times when PTO clutch is engaged, the locking delay may be problematic during engagement of PTO. In general, this is because a PTO clutch is modeled as ideally having two distinct operational states, (a) a first, disengaged state in which the plates of the clutch are not compressed and so the clutch does not transmit torque between the input shaft and the output shaft (and then to any connected load), and (b) a second, engaged state in which the plates of the clutch are compressed and the clutch transmits torque in an amount approximately directly related to the hydraulic fluid pressure applied to the clutch. However, in practice, a PTO clutch may still transmit a small but not negligible amount of torque from the input shaft to the output shaft even during the first, disengaged state, particularly if the hydraulic fluid pressure within the clutch is being increased to compress the plates and to cause the clutch to enter the engaged state. Even though this small amount of torque may be insufficient to rotate an PTO output shaft if equipment is directly loaded thereto, the torque may be sufficient to initially rotate an output shaft coupled as an input to an over-running clutch while locking pins 9 of the over-running clutch are disengaged from the locking notches thereof and until such time as the over-running clutch output locks to the over-running clutch input (i.e., while the transmitted torque may not be sufficient to rotate the a locked-up over-running clutch and its load, it may be sufficient to rotate the PTO output shaft during the locking delay). To summarize, the PTO clutch may transmit enough torque from the input shaft to the output shaft during the PTO engagement process, before the clutch is engaged, that the PTO will rotate from a position in which locking pins of the over-running clutch are disengaged from the locking notches to the position in which the locking pins are engaged with the locking notches.
Although U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,189 discussed in some considerable detail the problems posed by associated over-running clutches during PTO engagement operations, such patent's principal contribution to improved PTO clutch operation was directed less to the actual detection and controlled engagement of over-running clutches and more to an improved manner or strategy of overall PTO modulation. The system of such patent made use of a manner of adjusting the current increases to be applied to the clutch based upon comparisons made during the course of modulation of the actual acceleration and the desired acceleration, and basically presumed, based upon the fact that the mechanical parts between the PTO output shaft and the over-running clutch (i.e., the input shaft portion of the over-running clutch) could effectively be dragged to turn when the PTO clutch was only partially pressurized, that the actual acceleration would be very low when an over-running clutch was associated with the PTO output shaft. The system of such patent operated during modulation mode to increase the current at a slower rate when the acceleration was higher and at a faster rate when the acceleration was lower, except when the acceleration was found to be lower than some threshold, such as ⅙ of the desired acceleration, in which condition (presumptive indication of an over-running clutch) the increase in current was set to the lowest rate.
While such a strategy worked reasonably well in many cases, it had two significant drawbacks.
First, over-running clutches were quite commonly used with PTO driven implements, with different clutches exhibiting different kinds or degrees of "lock delay". The strategy of U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,189 was generally more effective for over-running clutches that exhibited relatively small "lock delay", but less so for over-running clutches that exhibited more pronounced "lock delays" and/or when the mechanical parts between the PTO output shaft and over-running clutch were light. In such cases, the detected acceleration would generally not only be higher than the threshold value, but higher than the normal acceleration encountered with non-over-running clutches and implements. Because the detected acceleration values did not fall within the "presumptive" category of over-running clutches, current increases would typically thus be applied at a higher rate than would be desirable for an over-running clutch, often resulting in abrupt engagements.
Second, when heavy loads and non-over-running clutches and implements were applied to the PTO output shaft, especially when operated at a low engine RPM, the actual PTO shaft acceleration could be so low as to be lower than the threshold, and such loading situations could then result in such loads being treated as "presumptive" over-running clutches when they were not. Under such condition, use of the strategy of U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,189 resulted in a very slow increase in current when, in actuality, it was preferred that current be more aggressively increased. Use of the strategy under such conditions thus often resulted in delayed and sluggish engagement and, in severe cases, failures to effect clutch lock-up within a desired or required time limit.
Thus, although the system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,189 significantly improved the overall manner in which PTO engagement is effected during the modulation period between initial movement of the output shaft and clutch lock-up and decreased the likelihood of encountering severe problems with extreme loads, and despite the advances realized through or as a result of the uses of such strategies, which have proven effective and beneficial in many instances, dealing with extreme load situations has remained troubling. In certain instances, the difficulties in effecting engagement could still result in either the application of very abrupt torque to a very light load, and the risk of possible damage thereto, or by a sudden and abrupt change in the load response due to locking delay when an over-running clutch is in use, which, in severe cases, could include risks associated with breakage of the shaft, unsafe operation, or engine stall.


A method includes detecting a voltage across a bulk capacitor of a power supply system, wherein the power supply system comprises a rectifier, a boost converter and a power converter, and wherein the bulk capacitor is between the boost converter and the power converter, activating the boost converter after the voltage across the bulk capacitor decreases and reaches a first voltage threshold and disabling the boost converter after the voltage across the bulk capacitor increases and reaches a second voltage threshold, wherein the second voltage threshold is greater than the first voltage threshold.

A power supply system (e.g., an adaptor) is used to convert the alternating current (ac) voltage from the utility companies into a direct current (dc) voltage suitable for electronic devices. In many applications, the power supply system is required to operate with a wide input voltage range. For example, in China and many European countries, the ac supply voltage from the utility companies is in a range from about 210 V to about 240 V and has a frequency of about 50 Hz. The voltage above is an RMS voltage. RMS stands for Root Mean Square. In North America, the ac supply voltage is in a range from about 100 V to about 120 V and has a frequency of about 60 Hz. Electronic devices such as a laptop computer may need a universal adapter so that the laptop computer can work in different countries.
The power supply system (e.g., an adaptor) usually includes an ac/dc stage (e.g., a rectifier) and an isolated dc/dc stage (e.g., an isolated dc/dc converter). The ac/dc stage converts the power from the ac utility line and establishes a dc bus for the isolated dc/dc stage. The ac/dc stage may comprise a variety of electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters and a bridge rectifier formed by four diodes. The EMI filters are employed to attenuate both differential mode noise and common mode noise. The bridge rectifier converts the ac voltage into a full-wave rectified dc voltage. Such a full-wave rectified dc voltage provides a steady dc input voltage for the isolated dc/dc stage through a plurality of smoothing capacitors coupled to the output of the bridge rectifier. The plurality of smoothing capacitors is also known as the bulk capacitor of the power supply system.
The isolated dc/dc stage converts the voltage of the dc bus to a voltage suitable to electronics loads such as tablets, printers, mobile phones, personal computers, any combinations thereof and the like. The isolated dc/dc stage can be implemented by using different power topologies, such as flyback converters, forward converters, half bridge converters, full bridge converters and the like.
In the power supply system (e.g., an adaptor), the bulk capacitor may occupy a large space of the printed circuit board (from about 30% to about 50%) of the adaptor. It would be desirable to have an adapter having reduced bulk capacitance so as to minimize the size of the adaptor.

Power supply system with reduced bulk capacitance


A pressure sensor stress isolation pedestal including a pressure sensor mounted in a housing with a circuit board. The sensor is bonded to a relatively tall pedestal. The height of the pedestal creates a stiff mounting structure that isolates the sensor from mechanical stress. The pedestal is formed by making a recess or moat-like structure around the pressure sensor in the housing that supports the sensor. Preferred sensors are MEMS type Pressure Sensors.

There are many different elements that are attached to circuit boards and other electronic devices. Often these devices function as designed and offer no problems. Other times, however, mechanical and/or thermal stress has an adverse affect on the sensor and the output is no longer reliable. For example, MEMS type pressure sensors are quite sensitive to mechanical and thermal stress. This stress induces a shift in the null output.
Accordingly, one advantage of the present invention is to provide a device which minimizes or eliminates mechanical and/or thermal stress on sensors, particularly on sensors mounted on plastic substrates or circuit boards.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a means for mounting the sensor that isolates the sensor from the circuit board to reduce or eliminate stress from the circuit board to the sensor.
Other advantages will appear hereinafter.

Pressure sensor stress isolation pedestal


A substrate support for a plasma processing apparatus includes a first support area configured to support a substrate placed thereon; a second support area configured to support a focus ring placed thereon, and extending in a circumferential direction outward in a radial direction with respect to the first support area; a conductive structure configured to be connected to the focus ring; and a holder configured to hold the connection member to press the connection member downward, and also to cause the connection member to press the surface of the focus ring. The conductive structure includes a first conductive path which provides a terminal area outward in the radial direction with respect to the second support area, and a connection member configured to electrically connect the focus ring and the terminal area, and disposed on the terminal area to face a surface of the focus ring.

A plasma processing apparatus is used in manufacturing an electronic device. In a plasma processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-258417, a focus ring is disposed to surround a substrate placed on an electrostatic chuck. A DC voltage is applied to the focus ring in order to adjust an upper end position of a sheath above the focus ring.

Substrate support, plasma processing apparatus, and focus ring


A navigation tool permits access between separate program modules by communicating state information between each program. By communicating state information between separate program modules, it is possible for a user to access previous screens of data, irrespective of the program module which generated the display, or to advance to previous screens of data if the user has already accessed a previous display. In other words, interactions between separate program modules become seamless in presentation to the user, analogous to how information can be displayed with a internet browser or as if separate program modules were operating under a common shell.

Multiple views or windows in a "Windows"-based computer environment have become necessary for computer navigation. However, these multiple views or windows can generate a disjointed or choppy "feel" for this computer navigation. Further, in the conventional art, a computer user is unable to return to original data content once a "switch" has occurred between separate application programs. In other words, a computer user is unable to utilize a "back" function to jump from one active application program to another inactive application program since such a navigation request is currently limited by the memory of an active individual application program and its prior states.
For example, conventional software products permit forward switching between separate application programs where one application program is cross-linked to another application program. When a user clicks on a link within one application program, the link will activate another inactive application program and display new data based upon this activation. However, users have a tendency to look up after several linking operations and desire to return to a previous application program that provided the original data content in addition to a program link. A back function of the conventional art is limited by the memory of an individual application program and that program's prior states such that it prevents a user from returning to a previous application program. That is, the conventional art prevents a user from returning to an application program containing an encyclopedia article after a user navigates through a linking function to a map contained in another companion application program such as an atlas computer program.
To facilitate switching between separate application programs, the conventional art can provide a simple navigational tool that does not return a computer user to previous data content within an application program. In other words, the conventional art only provides a mechanism that permits switching between application programs without tracking state data or data content between the separate application programs. For example, in the "Windows"-based computer environment, a series of keystrokes can activate a tracking device known as a task manager. Typically, a user activates the task manager by striking the "Alt-tab" key combination to invoke this limited navigation tool. While the task manager does permit a user to switch between currently active application programs, it does not track states within a computer application program that relate to previous iterations of data content. More specifically, this navigational tool does not track state data such as the sequence of previously rendered display screens.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and system for navigating between separate application programs that provide a cohesive environment between the application programs and a more friendly user experience. In other words, there is a need in the art for a navigational tool that permits a user to navigate easily through a sequence of content pieces both within and between separate application programs or software products. A further need in the art exists for a navigational tool where navigation between separate application programs is substantially seamless to the user such that a user does not observe switching between application programs other than through the data content being displayed to the user on a display device. A further need exists in the art for a navigation tool that minimizes programming for existing software application programs such that substantial retrofitting is unnecessary. Similarly, a further need exists in the art for a navigation tool that can ignore improper or unauthorized attempts to switch between running application programs utilizing conventional methods such as through a task manager. There is a need in the art for a navigational tool that substantially eliminates boundaries between separate application programs or software products such that the overall user experience is substantially enhanced.

Method and system for navigating between program modules


The PL signal of a PL portion is multiplied by gain factor βc in a multiplier(109) and the data of a data portion is multiplied by gain factor βd in a multiplier(110). These gain factors βc and βd are controlled in a weight controlling circuit (112). The PL signal and data thus multiplied by gain factors are added in an adder (111) and become an added PL signal. This added PL signal is output to a delay profile generation circuit (113). In the delay profile generation circuit (113), a delay profile is generated using the added PL signal. The delay profile is output to a path selection circuit (104) where path search is performed, and the information of selected reception timings are output to a RAKE combining circuit (105) and a channel estimation circuit (115). By this means, iterative path search and channel estimation can be performed with accuracy even when receiving signals where channels of different transmission power ratios are multiplexed.

In view of the spread and development of wireless internet connections, high-speed, large volume wireless communication has drawn attention over recent years. In order to implement this high-speed, large volume communication, the W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access) scheme has come under attention, and under the conditions of multi-path fading, coherent RAKE combining reception holds great significance. In order to realize the above, highly accurate reception timing detection for every path (path search) and channel estimation are needed.
To meet these needs, iterative path search and channel estimation are being studied. Such iterative path search and channel estimation are disclosed in "Iterative Decision-Directed Path Search and Channel Estimation For Multi-Carrier/DS-CDMA Broadband Packet Wireless Access" by Atarashi, Abeta, Sawahashi, and Adachi, in Technical Report of IEICE, RCS2000-4 (2000-04). According to this technique, after performing the initial path search and channel estimation using only pilot symbols and performing RAKE combining and error correction decoding, the decision-directed data symbols after decoding are added to the pilot symbols and path search and channel estimation are recursively repeated. By this means, it is possible to improve reception performance.
However, by the above-mentioned iterative path search and channel estimation, cases might arise where performance improvement is little due to decoding errors from early stages of repetition. In addition, the above technique is based on the premise that known signals and data signals are time-multiplexed and the transmission power is even. Because of this, in case DPDCH (Dedicated Physical Data CHannel) and DPCCH (Dedicated Physical Control CHannel) are code-multiplexed and their normal transmission power rates vary such as uplink channel signals in W-CDMA, it is not possible to use them for accurate iterative path search and channel estimation, and consequently, little performance improvement can be expected.

Radio reception apparatus and radio reception method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A bra cup molded by thermoforming comprises a layer of thermoformable polyurethane foam as well as an inner fabric and an outer fabric bonded to the foam layer. The outer fabric is composed of a three-dimensional knitted fabric comprising a first face and a second face separated from one another by a thickness of the three-dimensional knitted fabric that is greater than 1 mm. The method for manufacturing the cup comprises a molding step, and in a bonding step preceding the cup molding step, said first face and the foam layer are bonded together.

A bra cup is also referred to as a breast cup. A bra cup or breast cup of this type is disclosed in the European patent application published under number EP1440626A1. With reference to FIG. 12 of that document, a bra molded by thermoforming is disclosed in which cups of thermoformed urethane foam (6, 11) are associated with a chest band 12. The assembly is placed in a mold between two sheets of fabric (15, 16) in order to adhere the sheets of fabric to the breast cups, as explained in paragraph 72 of the document.
The fabric 15 on the outer face of the cups can expand with the chest band 12. This fabric is conventionally thin, and has no elasticity depthwise. The fabric therefore has little effect on any sensation of softness experienced when touching the outer face of a cup, and said sensation is dependent on the mechanical properties of the elasticity of the outer sheet of foam 11.
A softer foam can be considered in order to improve the feel, but this solution can be difficult to reconcile with the relative cup firmness required in order to support the chest properly. Furthermore, for wearer comfort it is generally desirable for the fabric covering the foam to offer satisfactory stretchability, which can be incompatible with a very soft feel. It is therefore difficult with the conventionally used fabric to provide a pleasant feel combining flexibility, elasticity, and softness.
The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages, and in particular aims to provide a thermoformed bra cup where the outer face is pleasantly soft.


A ceramic electronic device includes: a ceramic main body of a parallelepiped shape having at least two edge faces facing each other, and having an internal electrode layer inside; and external electrodes formed on the two edge faces and having a structure in which a plated layer is formed on a ground layer having a metal, as a main component, and ceramic; the external electrodes have an extension region which extends to at least one of four side faces from the two edge faces, and a part of which corresponds to a corner portion of the ceramic main body and includes a portion with the ground layer and a first portion, without the ground layer, arranged at a position where one of the two end faces and one of the four side faces are connected; and the plated layer covers the ground layer and the first portion.

In order to improve humidity resistance of ceramic electronic devices such as a multilayer ceramic capacitor, it is demanded that a corner portion of a ceramic main body (round edge) is sufficiently covered with a baked ground layer of an external electrode. And so, there is disclosed a technology in which a deviation of a thickness of the external electrode is reduced, and a thickness of a part of the external electrode on the round edge is secured (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-149939).

Ceramic electronic device and manufacturing method of ceramic electronic device