Provided is a composition for oral administration which includes a lipophilic active substance and a phospholipid, providing a prolonged therapeutic effect.

There are a number of oral formulations of cannabinoids commercially available by prescription for specific clinical indications. For example, Marinol oil capsules containing as an active ingredient a synthetic Δ9-THC dissolved in sesame oil having an immediate effect was approved for the control of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and for appetite stimulation in AIDS patients suffering from wasting syndrome. The manufacture process of Marinol is complex and expensive, and more importantly disadvantageous for the Δ9-THC stability as it involves application of heat and/or gelation. Δ9-THC is liable to oxidation, and upon contact with air undergoes gradual oxidation to CBN. Moreover, oil formulations of Δ9-THC exhibit full therapeutic potency up to 4 hours following administration, with a median Tmax up to 2.5 hours.
A different formulation, Namisol, as sublingual tablets containing a pure natural Δ9-THC has been approved for Alzheimer's disease and chronic neural pain. Namisol tablets have a relatively efficient uptake through the sublingual mucosa, however have to be kept under the tongue for the time it takes to dissolve, which makes it difficult for patients to avoid swallowing the tablet when substantial amounts of saliva are produced.
Nabilone (marketed as Cesamet) is a THC mimetic formulated in capsules suitable for oral administration, approved for use as an antiemetic and analgesic for neuropathic pain.
Sativex is a mouth spray containing THC and CBD approved for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis.
Some attempts to design sustained release dosage forms have been made, for the most part using oil as the major excipient.
International application publication no. WO 97/36577 describes mixing of lipophilic substances of poor oral bioavailability with at least one solid fat and a phospholipid to obtain a dried solid composition suitable as an oral dosage form.
US Patent application having a publication no. 2012/231083 discloses a medicament essentially containing cannabinoids in a lipophilic medium, such as an oil or oil-based carrier.
International application publication no. WO 04/069180 describes water-dispersible solid compositions of sparingly water-soluble compounds, in a particular lipidic carrier, which upon exposure to gastric and intestinal fluids form micelle dispersions of the sparingly water-soluble compounds.
International application publication no. WO 02/080883 describes compositions for forming molecular associates with lipophilic compounds and methods of loading lipophilic biologically active compounds into previously formed, aqueous suspensions of lipid particles.

Compositions of therapeutic substances, methods and uses thereof


A method and apparatus for profiling surfaces, such as sidewalls of a trench or line, using a scanning force microscope provides improved measurement accuracy by controlling the position of the tip responsive to the real-time measured local slope of the surface.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for profiling surfaces and in particular vertical surfaces in a substrate using scanning force microscopy and specifically to a novel control mechanism for positioning a tip of a scanning force microscope for sensing and tracking the sidewall of a trench or line disposed in a substrate. Quite specifically, the instantaneous slope of the surface to be profiled is measured and used for controlling the scan track of the scanning force microscope tip.
The capability to measure line widths and to profile trenches in substrates is becoming more and more important in the field of micro-metrology. Presently, instruments based upon optical interaction are inaccurate or have physical limitations when the features to be measured are smaller than a micrometer.
Accurate micro-metrology is typically performed with scanning electron microscopes (SEM). There are several disadvantages to the use of a SEM, such as the need to perform measurements in a vacuum environment and cross-sectioning of the substrate where the measurements are performed at only one location of the groove or trench. SEM measurement is a time consuming process and there is limited spatial accuracy due to effects resulting from e-beam interaction with the material being measured.
The use of scanning tunneling microscopes to measure forces between a tip and a surface of an insulating material by simply mounting a scanning tunneling microscope tip on a cantilever beam is described in the article by G. Binnig et al entitled "Atomic Force Microscope", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 56, No. 9, pp. 930-933 (1986). The resultant instrument combines the principles of the scanning tunneling microscope and the stylus profilometer.
Subsequently, in an article by Y. Martin et al entitled "Atomic Force Microscope-Force Mapping and Profiling on a sub 100 .ANG. Scale", J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 61, No. 10, pp. 4723-4729 (1987) a modified atomic force microscope was described which enabled a precise measurement of the force between a tip and a sample over a tip sample distance in the range between approximately 30-50 angstroms. In a first application, the force signal was used to maintain constant tip-surface spacing for facilitating profiling with a spatial resolution of 50 angstroms. In a second application simultaneous measurement of force and surface profile was described.
A publication entitled "Microprobe-Based CD Measurement Tool", IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin" Vol. 32, No. 7, p. 168 (December 1989) describes the use of an atomic force microscope designed for measuring trench depth and width. The system incorporates a two-dimensional laser heterodyne system which detects the change in resonance frequency of the vibrating probe tip as the tip approaches the surface. The probe tip may be vibrated in either the horizontal or vertical direction depending upon which surface is being approached. The probe tip is held stationary while the wafer or other part being measured is moved parallel or perpendicular to its surface and the displacement measured. The instrument design utilizes a three-point probe tip with well defined sensor points for detecting bottom, right and left edges of a trench. The tip is lowered into the trench and is then repeatedly moved left to right at a series of specific heights above the bottom of the trench. The trench width is thereby measured as a function of height and, thus, accurate measurements of trench dimensions can be made.
In the prior art techniques, the top edges of the trench are detected by first vertically moving the tip toward the top surface of the trench and then scanning the tip horizontally within the trench. The trench measurements are then performed by lowering the tip in the center of the trench. The tip is made to horizontally approach one of the sidewalls and then the other in order to measure the width at a specific depth location. The depth ofthe tip in the trench is changed and the two sidewall approach technique is repeated. At each depth location, two measurements are performed, as the tip approaches the first and then the second sidewall, which is time consuming. Moreover, a complex dual optical sensor is required for first performing the vertical and then the horizontal approaches.
In prior apparatus, the tip is vibrated in the horizontal direction as well as the conventional vertical direction, possibly at different frequencies, in order to sense the horizontal and vertical components of the force gradient. A serious limitation of such an arrangement is the need to measure the horizontal vibration. However, by using a second interferometer with its light beam focused on the side of the cantilever supporting the tip, the horizontal vibration be measured. Such an arrangement significantly increases the complexity of the apparatus.

Surface profiling using scanning force microscopy

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to: a jig for semiconductor production which is used for a CVD device in a semiconductor production process and contains a jig base and an SiC coating film formed on the jig base, in which the SiC coating film has a surface area ratio (surface area S2/surface area S1) between an apparent surface area S1 as calculated on the assumption that the surface is flat and free from unevenness and an actual surface area S2, of from 1.4 to 3.2; and a method for producing the jig for semiconductor production.

In a production process of an ultra-highly integrated semiconductor device such as DRAM or MPU, forming a thin film of Si3N4, polysilicon or the like as a gate insulting film or a capacitor on a surface of a semiconductor wafer is one of important processes. Formation of such a coating film on the surface of a semiconductor wafer is generally conducted using a low pressure CVD device. And various kinds of jigs such as a wafer boat using SiC or the like as a jig base are used in such a low pressure CVD device.
For example, as a jig using SiC as a jig base, there may be mainly used a product in which a porous SiC sintered body obtained by adding a binder to an SiC powder as a raw material, followed by molding, calcining and degreasing is impregnated with molten metal silicon (Si) to completely fill its pores with Si, thereby achieving gas-impermeability. Then, a surface of such a jig is coated with a protective film such as an SiC coating film, thereby suppressing diffusion of impurities to the outside from the inside of the jig.
In a semiconductor production process, a semiconductor wafer is placed on such a jig, and a thin film of Si3N4, polysilicon or the like (hereinafter referred to as a "deposit film") is formed on the wafer surface by a CVD method. In such a case, the deposit film is unavoidably formed on the surface of the jig.
A jig having the surface coated with an SiC coating film or the like has a problem that a deposit film peels from the surface of the jig at a relatively early stage, and particles and the like are generated. Therefore, the jig surface is required to be frequently cleaned with hydrofluoric acid, fluoronitric acid or the like to remove the deposit film adhered to the surface. To enhance production efficiency of a semiconductor and to improve product precision, those deposit films are required to make difficult to peel from the jig surface. Therefore, attempt to enhance the adhesive force of the deposit film by roughening the jig surface is conventionally conducted.
For example, Patent Document 1 mentioned below discloses an SiC jig characterized in that in an Si-impregnated SiC jig on which an SiC coating film is coated by CVD used in a low pressure CVD device in a semiconductor production process, a thickness of the SiC coating film coated is from 20 to 150 μm, and an average surface roughness Ra of the SiC coating film is from 1.5 to 5.0 μm.
Patent Document 2 mentioned below discloses a member for processing a semiconductor characterized in that, in a member for processing a semiconductor which is consisting of a silicon carbide film or in which a silicon carbide film is formed on a surface of a base substance of the member for processing a semiconductor used in a semiconductor production process, a surface roughness of the surface of the silicon carbide film is 150/cm or higher in peak count (Pc) when a dead zone width and measurement length of using a surface roughness measuring device is set 0.3 μm and 4 mm, respectively, and the surface of the silicon carbide film has an amount of fluorine atom of 0.3 atomic percentage or less, an amount of organic nitrogen of 0.7 atomic percentage or less, an amount of a hydrocarbon component of 29 atomic percentage or less, and an amount of organic CO of 4 atomic percentage or less in X-ray photoelectron spectrometry.

Jig for semiconductor production and method for producing same


The present invention is a computer-implemented system and method to create an optimal investment plan given wealth goals stated in probabilistic form, and to display the resulting probability distributions of wealth accumulations at future times where the method provides inputs for entering and storing in a computer target and fallback scenarios and required probabilities, computes rate of return values responsive to the user input, generates an efficient portfolio array, computes probabilities for the efficient portfolio array related to the rate of return values, iteratively compares the array probabilities so that the target and fallback scenario probabilities are satisfied and an optimum efficient portfolio is selected and then provides a graphical representation of the selected efficient portfolio.

The evaluation and management of long term diversified investment and asset portfolios can be a daunting task. Accordingly, a number of methods and strategies have been developed to help in the optimization and characterization of the risk and return attributes of investment alternatives. One longstanding method that has demonstrated success as a portfolio management tool is the mean-variance optimization procedure developed by Dr. Harold Markowitz over 40 years ago.
Dr. Markowitz's method assumes investment returns in an array of asset classes over a given fixed time period follow a multi variate probability distribution with finite expected value vector and covariance matrix. The method then seeks to combine the asset classes in linear combination so as to achieve the singly-dimensioned probability distribution of investment returns with the maximum expected value for a given standard deviation (or the minimum standard deviation for a given expected value). The method of optimization is known as quadratic programming. Dr. Markowitz originated a quadratic programming algorithm to solve this mean-variance optimization problem, but other quadratic programming algorithms can also be utilized.
The algorithms produce an entire curve in the plane of expected return vs. standard deviation, consisting of the maximum expected return for each standard deviation. This curve has come to be known as the "efficient frontier," and the linear combinations of assets representing the points on the frontier as "efficient portfolios."
Given this efficient frontier of investment asset combinations, the conventional method of optimizing a portfolio for a particular investor's risk preference and displaying the risk and return characteristics of the alternative portfolios is as follows:
First, a heuristic method is applied to determine the standard deviation of the investment return distribution corresponding to the investors risk preference. The method frequently employs a questionnaire assessment of the investor's general attitude toward risk, in which the key question addresses the investor's preferred risk posture in terms such as "very conservative," "moderately conservative," "moderately aggressive," "aggressive," "very aggressive," etc.
Given the standard deviation inferred from the investor's questionnaire response, the point on the efficient frontier with that standard deviation is selected as the optimal portfolio. In the course of the risk preference assessment process, or after the investor's risk preference is assessed and the optimization procedure is performed as described above, the investor is shown exhibits characterizing the relationship between risk and return. Frequently central among these exhibits is the efficient frontier itself, displayed in the plane of expected return vs. standard deviation. The exhibit is intended to show how expected return increases as risk increases.
However, practical embodiments of this methodology are deficient since the method of determining risk preference is not specific to the investor's particular programmatic investment goals. Furthermore, standard deviation is an imperfect measure of risk and the rates of return used in framing the expectation of investment results are most often stated without accounting for the effect of taxes, expenses, fees, and inflation, thus promoting unrealistically high expectation. Other problems arise with this prior art methodology where an investor holds both taxable and tax-deferred investment accounts, since the methodology lumps them together rather than producing an optimal allocation to each account. Finally, the efficient frontier as a display technique to exhibit the relationship between risk and return tends to imply that return will be higher at higher levels of risk, without also clearly indicating that the probability of lower returns can be higher at higher risk levels.
Thus it is desirable to have system for optimizing a portfolio for a particular investor's risk preference and displaying the risk and return characteristics of the alternative portfolios without the corresponding deficiencies of prior art methods.

System and method for generating and displaying risk and return in an investment portfolio


A deck of cards, tiles, or similar playing pieces, real or simulated on a computer or other device, chiefly characterized by a trilateral organization comprising three independent aspects: suit, value, and color or color group. The plurality of cards representing each element of each aspect comprise approximately equal pluralities of each element of each of the other aspects. Except for auxiliary cards, each card in a single deck represents a unique combination of a single suit, a single color group, and a single value or rank. The preferred form of the invention is a series of related triadic decks of playing cards comprising three suits and three color groups (20R, 20G, 20B), nonsexist or gender-neutral picture cards (22, 24), an improved layout, and indicative card backs (32). The layout improvement typically involves additional set designation markers (16) in the two commonly vacant corners of a card face (FIG. 2A). Backs (32) are uniform for all cards in a deck but different from deck to deck; the use of the elements of the back (26, 28, 30) is sufficient to remind a player of the general configuration of the deck being used (FIGS. 4A to 4D).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to card games, specifically the packs of cards or tiles used to play such games.
2. Prior Art
A conventional 52-card pack of playing cards is almost certainly the greatest invention in the history of games. It is compact, lightweight, portable, inexpensive, instantly familiar, and the basis for a staggering variety of games, including many of the most popular ever: bridge, poker, rummy, and a multitude of solitaire games. It has not changed significantly for hundreds of years.
Although its flaws are disguised by familiarity and sanctified by tradition, a conventional deck of cards is not perfect.
For example, the number of cards in a standard deck is arbitrary and awkward. Since its factors are only two, four, and 13, a 52-card deck cannot be dealt out evenly among three, five, or six players. This limits the kind of games three or five people can play and, often, alters the game play (by omitting certain cards to make the deal come out even) for different numbers of players.
A conventional deck lacks the special or auxiliary cards many games (euchre, skat, klaberjass, some forms of poker, etc.) require. This forces other cards (typically jacks, often deuces, sometimes others) into roles for which they are ill-suited. The confusing rules and asymmetrical rankings that result make such games hard to learn and limit their appeal.
The symbology of traditional suits and ranks, especially the face cards, is outdated and somewhat sexist. It lacks both contemporary relevance and the romance of fantasy.
Most essentially, a hand of cards is subject to the whimsy of chance. In most games, a bad hand is a huge, often overwhelming disadvantage. This is commonly assumed to be inherent in the nature of card games and not, therefore, capable of being corrected or ameliorated. To consider it a problem of the nature of the cards themselves requires stepping outside the traditional paradigm, a feat few people are inclined to do.
The layout of a conventional card face is not ideal. Stacking secondary indicia in the upper left corner is handy for sorting cards held in the hand. However, the vertically overlapped cards typical of solitaire games must be separated enough to view both value index and suit marker. This sharply limits the size of the possible tableaux (game formations) or, in computer displays, the size of the cards. More compressed card stacks force players to remember or guess the suits involved or to peek periodically at the concealed suit markers. A truly satisfactory solution requires an improved card face.
Most attempts at changing the layout of conventional cards seem to involve esthetic more than practical considerations. An exception is U.S. Pat. No. 198,217 to Saladee (1877), which offers two imperfect solutions to the solitaire problem. The first is an enlarged set of secondary indicia in which numbers (value indexes) are on, not above, suit markers. The advantage of this approach is substantially reduced by the need for extremely tiny numbers or exceptionally large suit symbols. The former would be hard to read, especially in computer simulations; the latter would occupy most of the space to be saved. The second approach includes, at each corner, a pair of suit markers surrounding a value index. While this arrangement would allow more compressed stacks of cards, it uses more indicia than necessary. Limiting the secondary indicia to two diagonally opposite corners results in two overcrowded corners and two empty ones, an inefficient use of space that unnecessarily confines the primary indicia, which should be centered.
Even the advantages of conventional cards can be a drawback to computer-game publishers. Lacking copyright protection, traditional card games can be duplicated readily by other companies. It is hard for a marketing campaign to distinguish a solid, professional rendition from the crudest shareware effort. Millions play card games on computer, but selling card games successfully seems to require a new foundation.
Despite the disadvantages of a conventional deck, the only two traditional alternatives are of limited utility. A tarot deck, from which the modern deck evolved, has four suits and 22 auxiliary cards (the major arcana) that can serve as something of a fifth suit. A mah jong set is a quadruple deck of 136-144 tiles; it has three suits and 28-36 auxiliary tiles. Both sets are too unwieldy for a general-purpose deck, with far too many auxiliary pieces for most games. Colors are undeveloped, being neither clearly associated with suits nor fully independent.
The only modern competitor to achieve substantial commercial success was Parker Brothers' popular Rook card deck, which used colors as suits but was otherwise quite similar to a conventional deck. Like attempts to assign a different color to each of the four standard suits, this approach is actually less flexible than having two colors and four suits. (In solitaire games, alternating colors differs from alternating suits; with a Rook deck, they are equivalent.)
There have been surprisingly few attempts at substantively changing the organization of a deck of cards. U.S. Pat. No. 1,448,441 to Haas (1923) shows four suits, two pairs distinguished by symbol and two distinguished by color. The intent is not to create fully functional color groups equivalent to, but independent from, suits. Instead, the patent uses suit symbols, color, and two sets of values to create subsets and supersets of suits. In trick-taking games (the obvious focus of the patent), this construction allows trump to be a suit, two suits, or even half a suit. In melding, discarding, gambling, and solitaire games, there seems little advantage to the arrangement, and a deck of 65 cards is numerically even more awkward than one of 52.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,906 to Gruber (1977) discloses a specific game using a 121-card deck that seems to separate color and suit. However, nothing in the patent specifies that suit, color, and rank must be genuinely independent, and their exact relationship remains obscure. The deck is much too large for general use, and most standard games have no need of the patented game's implied restrictions on suit symbols.
The previously overlooked U.S. Pat. No. 1,632,941 to Abell (1927) discloses a specific game using a 60-card deck that separates color and suit but, as in Haas, fails to make them equivalent. Instead, color groups are suits, and "spot suits" are effectively subsuits, whose primary purpose is perhaps to add complexity to a poorly conceived scoring system, but whose actual primary function is to complicate and confuse card ranking. In Abell's scheme, in which both "spot suits" and "color suits" are ranked or ordered (the former by geometric shape, the latter by an arcane system not even Abell can explain), a Three could be higher than a Four but lower than a Deuce--and vice versa. This unintuitive arrangement--confusing to one "of average skill in the art" and utterly baffling to prospective players--is enough to deter even the minuscule audience for an invention aimed at making contract bridge "more complex." Far from appreciating the great advantage of separating color and suit--the flexibility to be gained by making them equal--Abell is stratified and inflexible. While the deck's size is "convenient," the exact number of cards (60) seems a happy accident, and the major advantage thereof (divisibility among two-to-six players: in a word, flexibility) is squandered on a game for four people--the one group whose needs are met by a conventional deck. Unsurprisingly, Abell leaves no legacy for today's card games.


Methods of deriving the cumulative maximum localized corrosion rate and cumulative localized corrosion rate factor for corrosion monitoring using coupled multielectrode array sensor probes are disclosed. Compared with maximum localized corrosion rate, which is derived from the corrosion rate on any of the electrodes of a probe that has the highest corrosion rate at a given moment of time, cumulative maximum localized corrosion rate is derived from the corrosion rate of the electrode that has been corroded the most in a given time period. The cumulative maximum localized corrosion rate is directly related to the corrosion damage (maximum localized corrosion depth); the maximum localized corrosion depth equals the integration of the cumulative maximum localized corrosion rate. Cumulative maximum localized corrosion rate should be used to evaluate the localized corrosion effect on metal damage.

Coupled multielectrode array sensors (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,463 and No. 6,132,593) have been used for corrosion monitoring and electrochemical studies (see L. Yang and N. Sridhar, "Coupled Multielectrode Online Corrosion Sensor," Materials Performance, 2003, September issue, page 48). The present invention is related to how one can derive a more meaningful localized corrosion rate using the concept of multielectrode electrochemical devices or corrosion sensors.

Measurement of cumulative localized corrosion rate using coupled multielectrode array sensors


A solid-phase nano extraction device includes an extraction tube whose inner surface has a nanostructure for a large contact area with object to be detected. The nanostructure can adsorb objects in an extremely short reaction time. A driving structure is designed for the solid-phase micro extraction device. The extraction tube is connected to the driving structure for the objects to enter the fiber under the force of concentration gradient, pressure difference, or capillary force, thereby being adsorbed onto the nanostructure.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an extraction device and, in particular, to a solid-phase micro extraction device.
2. Related Art
When analyzing organic components of a complex sample, one often uses such techniques as liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction (SPE), and super-phase extraction (SFE). However, these methods have different kinds of defects, such as high costs, complicated operations, long operation time, or pollution of organic solvents poisonous to human bodies. The traditional solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) developed according to the SPE has the advantages of a shorter sample processing time in the sample pretreatment, simpler operation steps, reduced organic solvent uses, and reduced loss of analyzed materials.
This invention develops a novel solid-phase nano extraction (SPNE) device that overcomes defects in conventional sample pretreatment technology. It does not need any solvent and complicated devices. It can directly extract volatile and nonvolatile compounds from aqueous and gaseous samples. The sampling in this method uses a SPNE fiber assembly, which consists of a holder and a fiber. FIG. 1 shows a conventional SPNE fiber assembly. The holder 10 includes a handheld bar 11, a push rod 12, and an adjustable depth gauge 13. The rear end of the handheld bar 11 is connected to the push rod 12 to control the action of a Z-shaped connection rod 14 inside the handheld bar 11. The front end of the handheld bar 11 is connected to the depth gauge 13. The front end of the depth gauge 13 is connected to the fiber 20. The fiber 20 contains a probe 21 whose front tip is a fused-silica rod probe 21 with a diameter of about 0.5 mm, and it is surrounded by a hollow stainless tube 22. The surface of the fused-silica rod used for extraction is coated with a compound layer of PDMS and adsorbing materials. Through the driving of the Z-shaped connection rod 14 connected to the push rod 12, the probe 21 is controlled by the push rod 12 to push out or pull in. When sampling, the user pushes the push rod 12 so that the front fused-silica rod of the probe 21 is exposed in the sample. The probe retracts after finishing sampling. The SPNE fiber assembly is installed in an analyzing apparatus, such as a gas chromatography (GC) or a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The probe extends into the analyzing apparatus for departure in order to complete subsequent analyses.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A small-volume sample handling system includes a chamber with first and second portions. A conduit having a flow control valve may be fluidly coupled to the first portion. A pressure in the second portion may be adjusted so that liquid samples can be aspirated and dispensed in a needle coupled to the valve in response to opening of the valve. The first and second portions of the chamber may be separated by a diaphragm.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to handling small volume fluid samples, such as nanoliter-size fluid samples.
2. Related Art
The ability to handle small volume fluid samples, such as samples in the nanoliter-size range, can be important in biotechnology-related research, such as genomics and proteomics. Small volume sample handling is also used in other pharmaceutical or material science research, such as for drug discovery, live cell dispensing, combinatorial chemistry or other applications.
Systems that perform such sample handling are frequently used to pick up, or aspirate, samples from a work surface, such as wells in a microtiter tray. Microtiter trays are well known in the art, and commonly have 96, 384 or other numbers of wells to hold individual liquid samples. Sample handling systems also are used to place, or dispense, liquid samples in desired positions on a work surface.

Method and apparatus for handling small volume fluid samples


An edge detection system for detecting pre-formatted marks on a disk surface using reflected beams of optical signals. The detector include at least two separate sensing areas to analyze the energy distribution of the reflected beam to generate an edge detecting signal.

The present specification generally relates to detecting marks on disk surfaces for servo signals.
An optical disk drive uses a laser beam to write and read data on a storage media. The disk drive uses the same laser beam to read the servo signals, including a tracking error signal (TES) and read-only (RO) signals. The TES may be generated by detecting a diffraction pattern of light from pre-formatted areas, e.g. grooves on a disk surface. The TES provides information about the laser beam position on a grooved disk. The TES is fed into a control system to keep the illuminated beam aligned relative to the center of a selected track. It is desirable to keep the beam on the center if the data is recorded on the center of the track.
The RO signals mainly provide address information for the disk surface, such as a sector number and a track number. The RO signals are encoded in the pre-formatted marks on the disk surface. Since the reflectivity of the pre-formatted mark is different from the reflectivity of the flat region, pre-formatted marks can be detected by measuring a sum signal, which is the total amount of light reflected from the disk surface, and then by electronically performing differentiation of the sum signal. If the sum signal is below (or above) a predetermined level, it indicates that a focused spot of the laser beam is crossing a mark. If the sum signal is above (or below) the predetermined amount, then it indicates the focused spot being on a flat area. The encoded RO signals are decoded by successively measuring the sum signal as the laser beam scans over a series of pre-formatted marks.
A near-field optical disk drive operates by placing the optical head near the storage media by a spacing less than about one wavelength (e.g., a fraction of one wavelength). Unlike coupling in a far-field configuration based on light propagation, optical signals in the near-field configuration are coupled between the optical head and the storage media at least in part by the evanescent fields. Hence, each optical signal coupled through the optical head has a dependence on the air gap between the head and the media. Any variation in the air gap may cause a variation in an optical signal which acts as noise in signal detection.
The present disclosure provides an edge detection technique to generate a RO signal that is insensitive to the air gap spacing and the structure of the film stack in the media. The RO signal generated by this edge detection technique mainly changes with the edge geometry of the pre-formatted marks on the media and is decoupled from other optical signals including the data-bearing signal (e.g., the magneto-optic signal or the phase-change signal) and the TES signal. Hence, the structure of the media can be optimized for data recording and reading without significantly compromising generation of servo signals.
The inventor noticed that accurate timing of the pre-formatted mark edges can be detected, preferably without performing any electronic differentiation of the total reflected energy, by simply measuring the spatial energy distribution of the reflected beam. The pre-formatted mark edges can be accurately detected even under the high variation of the head| media spacing often encountered in near-field readout situation by monitoring the energy difference between the two halves of the reflected laser beam. Since the energy distributions in the two halves vary together with the signal variations caused by the head-media spacing, the film structure, and other common-mode factors, the energy difference between the two halves changes primarily with the geometry of the media surface changes and rejects common-mode noise.
In one aspect, the present specification involves an edge detection system for detecting pre-formatted marks on a disk surface by analyzing the energy distribution of a laser beam reflected from the disk surface. In some embodiments, analysis of the energy distribution includes receiving the laser beam and optically differentiating the energy from the two halves separated by a line in a selected direction to generate an edge detecting read-only (RO) signal.
In another aspect, a disk drive system including an edge detection system is disclosed. One embodiment of the disk drive system includes an optical head that couples the laser beam onto the surface of the storage media. The system also includes a servo detector have two sensing areas to detect energy distributions from two different portions of the laser beam and an edge detection analyzer that computes the difference between the portions.

Edge detection for servo signals in optical storage system


A power-on reset circuit includes a Schmitt trigger circuit, a voltage divider, and a compensate circuit. The Schmitt trigger circuit includes a plurality of MOS devices of a uniform threshold voltage (Vt) for determining a power reset trigger level. The voltage divider is coupled to an input of the Schmitt trigger circuit for tracking the supply signal. The compensate circuit is operative to generate a small reset pulse to compensate for temperature and the supply signal variation effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to power supply circuitry and, more particularly, to power-on resets for power supply circuitry.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditionally, an electronic device has required a power supply that provides a relatively constant voltage to the electronic device. In such devices, when power is initially applied to the electronic device, a supply signal increases non-instantaneously from a ground potential to an operational level. When the supply signal exceeds a threshold, a "power-on reset" signal indicates to the various components that sufficient voltage is available on the supply signal. The various components of the electronic device may then initialize to a predetermined state in response to the power-on reset signal. In many electronic devices, each time the power-on reset signal is asserted, the electronic device enters the same predetermined state.
Many electronic devices also have a low power mode, also called a sleep mode or sleep state. When in a low power mode, the supply signal is reduced to a very low level, sufficient to allow some devices to operate but insufficient to allow other components to operate. For example, a computer system may contain a low-power memory that can store session information, recently-modified files, and other data needed to restore the computer system.
When the supply signal is restored to its operational level following a sleep state, it is generally not desirable to assert the power-on reset signal, since the power-on reset signal would return the electronic device to the predetermined state rather than restoring the session. The power-on reset signal might, for example, erase portions of memory that had been used during the session. To avoid this unfortunate result, many electronic devices are designed so that when the voltage of the supply signal increases from the very low "sleep" voltage to a fully operational voltage, the power-on reset signal is suppressed, while when the voltage of the supply signal increases from the ground potential to a fully operational voltage, the power-on reset signal is asserted. Suppressing the power-on reset signal during recovery from a sleep state advantageously prevents re-initialization of memory and other power-on processes that would negate the advantages of the sleep state.
To suppress the power-on reset signal during recovery from a sleep state, various techniques have been used. U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,446 uses two sets of transistors having different threshold voltages. One set of transistors with extremely low threshold voltages is intended to operate even while the computer system is in sleep mode; the gate terminals of these transistors can trigger even when the voltage of the supply signal is very small. The low-threshold transistors provide a non-zero voltage at a node that would be grounded but for the operation of the low-threshold transistors. The other set of transistors, having a normal threshold voltage and having this node at the source terminals, cannot trigger when recovering from the sleep mode but can trigger when recovering from a full power-down state.
Fabricating an integrated circuit with different devices having different threshold voltages can be an expensive and difficult process, possibly requiring multiple mask steps. A need thus exists in the prior art for a power-on reset circuit in which substantially all of the transistors have a uniform threshold voltage, such that the power-on reset circuit can assert a power-on reset signal in response to a supply signal having a sufficient voltage except when recovering from a sleep state. A further need exists for a circuit that generates a power-on reset signal having adequate temperature immunity, ultra-low DC leakage current, and fast power crash reaction.

Power-on reset circuit with supply voltage and temperature immunity, ultra-low DC leakage current, and fast power crash reaction


A furnace filter system or kit for installation on an existing furnace duct having upper and lower supply roll supports respectively mountable on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent one side wall of the duct for removably receiving a supply roll of filter media therebetween, and upper and lower take-up roll supports respectively mounted on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent the other side thereof for removably receiving a filter media take-up roll therebetween. Slots are provided in the side walls of the duct inwardly adjacent the corresponding one of the supply roll and take-up roll and between the top and bottom walls of the duct, and a filter media supporting frame assembly is received in the duct and has opposite sides provided with guide slots therein aligned with the duct slots. Filter media is threaded through the supporting frame assembly from the supply roll to the take-up roll, and the latter is adapted to be periodically rotated by a motor on the upper take-up roll support to advance the filter media from the supply roll to the take-up roll. A control unit provides for the advancement of the filter media to be achieved, selectively, through one of a manual switch, timer and pressure sensor responsive to a pressure drop across the filter media in the duct.

This invention relates to the art of furnace filters, and more particularly to filter assemblies utilizing bulk filter media instead of individual replacement filters.
Filters of one type or another are installed on commercial and residential furnaces all over the country. Many of these furnaces employ a traditional replacement filter consisting of a rectangular sheet of filter media encased in a cardboard frame which provides support to the filter media. This type of filter is generally housed in a filter support structure which is built into the air intake of the furnace. The filter normally covers the entire opening of the air intake, giving the traditional replacement filters substantial size in both length and width. To replace such a filter, the old filter must first be manually removed and disposed of, and then a replacement filter can be inserted into the filter support structure. Since the function of these filters is to trap dirt and other particulate material, thereby removing the contaminants from the air, these filters naturally become clogged with dust and dirt. At this point, the filter becomes ineffective as it no longer has the ability to remove a significant amount of dirt and dust particles from the air. The filter also becomes inefficient as the dirt in the filter reduces the filter""s ability to pass air. This requires the furnace motor to work harder to get the necessary amount of air through the furnace. Only by frequent replacement of the filter does the air continue to be efficiently and effectively cleaned.
There are inconveniences associated with such frequent replacement of these filters. First, since the dirty replacement filters must be manually removed and disposed of, the person servicing the furnace is required to physically handle the dirty filters. The filters must be handled carefully to avoid shaking the dust and dirt out of the filter and into the furnace or the surrounding area. This is made more difficult due to the size of the filter. These filters are typically not heavy, but often require two hands to handle carefully. Second, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency, the traditional replacement filter must be continually monitored to determine when the filter should be changed. Unfortunately, there is no reliable indicator to suggest when the filter needs to be replaced. So the filters are not necessarily replaced at the optimum time, instead being thrown out with useable life remaining or, worse, being used while inefficient and ineffective. Third, replacement filters of the foregoing character only provide primary filtration at the furnace intake. Once the air is forced through the furnace and into the duct work, the filter at the intake can provide no further filtration. In many situations, additional or supplemental filtration may be desired. However, the traditional type of replacement filter discussed above does not function in such a manner. Finally, the size of the traditional replacement filter, as discussed earlier, presents another inconvenient aspect of this type of filter. To be able to replace the filters as often as is necessary and to avoid making frequent trips to the hardware store to purchase a single filter, these traditional replacement filters are often purchased in quantity. However, due to their size, a quantity of these filters takes up a significant amount of valuable and often limited storage space.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,205 to Koushiafes, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for background purposes, discloses a furnace air filter unit which includes a structure for supporting a bulk roll of filter material. The filter unit is supported in a furnace in the manner of the traditional filters discussed above, and the filter material can be manually pulled through the support structure so that a new segment replaces the dirty filter media. The manual indexing of the filter media would occur with the same frequency as discussed above with replaceable filter inserts and the dirty portion of the media is manually separated from the fresh filter media and disposed of. A serrated knife edge is used to cut the dirty filter material from the fresh segment. In all, the service person manually feeds the dirty filter media out of the support structure and then grasps the dirty filter material by hand, manually tears the material using the knife edge, and discards the dirty segment.
The Koushiafes"" filter unit may in part resolve the storage issue discussed above, but does not resolve the first three problems presented. In fact, the arrangement disclosed in Koushiafes may aggravate the problem associated with handling the dirty filter. In this respect, Koushiafes still requires the handling of dirty filter media, and also requires that the unsupported filter media be cut using a serrated edge. This will cause much of the dust and dirt from the filter media to shake loose and contaminate the area around the furnace intake. Furthermore, Koushiafes does not solve the issue of determining when to advance the filter media. Accordingly, the filter media may be discarded before being fully used, or it may be discarded after becoming inefficient and ineffective.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,363 to Percy, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for background purposes, discloses a vacuum filter belt apparatus such as for the air intake of a truck. The Percy apparatus is built as a complete structural unit, including permanent filter pad units, and while the unit includes a storage canister and a take-up canister the latter are mounted directly onto the body of the apparatus. A pressure responsive drive motor control provides for advancing the filter belt when it becomes dirty, and a belt depletion signal is provided. However, the unitary construction precludes the selection and separate mounting of the canisters and filter media support, respectively on, and in a furnace duct.
The present invention provides a furnace filter system having distinct advantages and improvements over the traditional furnace filter and the other prior art discussed above. As further explained in the following discussion, the present invention resolves or minimizes the shortcomings of traditional furnace filters in that it provides selectivity with respect to the location of mounting, selectivity with respect to orientation of the component parts relative to one another and a furnace duct, and ease and simplicity with respect to the installation thereof. Once mounted, the filter system minimizes the handling of dirty filters, eliminates the need for constantly monitoring the filter media""s effectiveness and efficiency, adds versatility with respect to controlling usage of the filter media, makes the storage space ordinarily required to store a quantity of individual replacement filters available for other purposes, and provides the ability for adding secondary or supplemental filtration to an existing filter system.
More particularly with regard to the foregoing attributes, a furnace filter system according to the invention includes individual structural components selectively mountable on a furnace duct to provide a supply roll of filter media on one side of a furnace duct for feeding filter media across the duct to the opposite side, where the used filter media is coiled and stored on a take-up roll mounted on the other side. When the entire supply roll is exhausted and wound onto the take-up roll, the latter is disposed of. A furnace filter system according to the invention also has the ability to selectively control displacement of the media from the storage roll to the take-up roll. In this regard the system can monitor the effectivity of the section of filter media extending across the duct and, upon reaching a pre-set level of ineffectiveness, the furnace filter system will index the filter media so that a new segment of filter media is extended across the duct. As the new filter media is advanced, the dirty portion is coiled and stored. Alternatively, the system can operate to advance the filter media based on lapsed time, or can be manually controlled. This is advantageous in that there may be situations where indexing over a time duration or on an as needed basis may more closely meet the requirements of the application and allow for a more efficient use of the filter media. Additionally, the furnace filter system preferably monitors the amount of filter media remaining in the supply and issues an alarm when a preselected amount of filter media remains. The number of times the furnace filter system can be indexed is only limited by the amount of bulk filter material on a supply roll. Therefore, the equivalent number of traditional filters the furnace filter system displaces is equal to the number of times the bulk roll can be indexed. Since the bulk roll only needs to be replaced once instead of the number of times traditional replacement filters would require, the furnace filter system results in significantly reduced maintenance and handling of dirty filter material.
Unlike the traditional furnace filter which is limited to mounting at the intake of the furnace, a furnace filter system according to the invention is suitable for installation at any number of different locations in a heating and ventilation system. Moreover, the system can be easily installed by a homeowner, or do-it-your-selfer, and accordingly is readily adapted to be provided in kit form for the latter purpose. The ease of installation is due to the simple and compact design of the system components, and the fact that the components can be mounted on a furnace duct with only a minor modification thereof. In this respect, the system includes a frame assembly designed to fit within the duct, and installation of the frame assembly only requires cutting slots in opposite sides of a duct to provide enough space to maneuver the frame into one of the slots. The supply roll assembly and the take-up roll assembly are independent of the frame and can be readily mounted along opposite sides of the duct adjacent the corresponding frame slot. The only mounting requirement is that the axes of the supply and take-up rolls be generally parallel to the front and sides of the frame assembly to optimize support and guidance of the filter media therebetween. The compact design and flexible mounting options also facilitate installation of the system in areas of limited clearance, such as a crawl space, and automatic advancement of the filter media advantageously minimizes the need to enter such areas of limited accessibility to monitor and replace the filter media.
While the advantages of having a second filter in a ventilation system are well known, a filter system according to the present invention can also provide different levels of secondary filtration. That is, the filter system can utilize any one of a variety of types of filter media or combinations of filter media, thus optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the filtration. For example, a first filter system can be installed at the furnace intake with a roll of more coarse filter media for primary filtration, and/or another system can be installed downstream of the furnace with a roll of less coarse filter media for secondary filtration. Furthermore, the latter may be installed for use with a traditional filter at the intake. In either case the filter system will provide efficient and effective fluid filtration and is economical and convenient to operate and maintain.
It is accordingly an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a residential furnace filter system which minimizes the monitoring and maintenance required with respect to such systems heretofore available by utilizing bulk filter media which can be automatically advanced from a supply roll to a take-up roll in response to a given parameter to promote effective and efficient filtration and use of filter media.
Another object is to provide a furnace filter system of the foregoing character which is comprised of a minimum number of component parts and has a compact design and flexible mounting capabilities, thus making the system relatively simple to install and, therefore, adaptable for availability in kit form for installation on a furnace duct without disassembling the duct and with minimal modification of the duct structure.
Still another object is to provide a furnace filter system of the foregoing character which is structurally simple, thereby promoting the economic production of the system, and which facilitates easy insertion and removal of bulk filter media, without the need for tools, and with minimal handling of the bulk filter media.


A conveyor includes a housing, a moveable conveyor member, and a cover. The moveable conveyor member is moveably attached to the housing. The cover is rotate-ably attached to the housing at a pivot point between a closed position covering the moveable conveyor member and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member. The cover includes a counter-weight with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point.

Covers are used by some of the current conveyors, such as screw conveyors or other types of conveyors, in order to gain access to the internal components of the conveyor. However, due to the heavy weight of the covers, it is often difficult for users to manually move the covers from their closed to open positions. Moreover, the current conveyors may experience one or more additional issues.
A conveyor cover is needed to reduce one or more issues of one or more of the current conveyors and their methods of use.


A method and system for significantly increasing the density of particulates on a substrate includes disposing a particulate material, such as fibers or abrasive material, onto a surface of the substrate, whereby the particles adhere to the substrate. The substrate is then exposed to conditions sufficient to cause the surface area, on which the particulate material is disposed, to diminish, thereby significantly increasing the density of the particulate material. The system includes a support on which the substrate is disposed, apparatus for disposing the particulate material in the substrate and apparatus for causing the surface on which the particulate material is disposed to significantly diminish.

Many products include a substrate which are coated with a particulate substance, such as fibers or granules adhering to a surface of the substrate. For example, common forms of such fibers are often referred to as flock, whereas particles, in general, may be abrasive particles, such as are used in sandpaper. Because flock usually has the largest length-to-width ratio of commonly applied particulate materials and is usually made of flexible materials, with a typical length between about thirty and eighty mils and a denier of between about one and eighteen denier, it is usually the most difficult particulate substance to deposit at high density levels.
With regard to flocked products, for example, the highest density of fibers on commercially available products, generally do not exceed about four ounces of flock per square yard. It is rarely possible to exceed about fifteen or so percent of the theoretical flock density possible for a given flock length and denier, i.e. where maximum theoretical flock density on the surface exists when the substrate is essentially packed with straight fibers, each fiber touching adjacent fibers along its whole length.
There are several problems associated with limited particulate density. For example, multiple applications of a weight or a frictional shuffling action, as on a flocked carpet, or on any of the commonly available carpet structures, often bends the fibers at the base where the fibers enter the adhesive layer or base structure, tending to break the fibers without actually abrading or wearing them away throughout their lengths.
In contrast, the same weight or shuffling action on a high-density surface bends the fibers, but not at their bases, since the close proximity of adjacent fibers "support" each other, causing the weight or abrasive force to wear the top ends of the fibers, allowing the whole length of the fibers to wear, thus presenting a great deal of material to resist the abrading action. However, an increase in the density of flock on a flocked surface will result in a substantially greater increase in the resistance of the flocked surface to abrasion than the increase of flock density would normally indicate. Hence, even the highest density flocked substrates commonly available generally do not offer adequate abrasion resistant surfaces for use in many applications.
In another embodiment, the utility of filters having flocked components is also limited by the density and arrangement of fibers of the flock. For example, a relatively low density of fibers can significantly diminish the efficiency of filtration. Also, flock is generally uniformly distributed on substrates, thereby limiting, for example, the design of filters or the esthetic design of automobile cabin interiors which employ flocked components.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of significantly increasing or varying the density of a particulate substance adhering to a substrate and for articles which are formed by such a method.

Method and system for significantly increasing the density of particulates on a substrate


A device for controlling the drilling direction of drills includes a cylinder-type housing 6, a first ring-formed component 11 which is located on an inner peripheral surface that is eccentric with respect to the cylinder-type housing 6, a second ring-formed component 12 which is located on the inner peripheral surface that is eccentric with respect to the circular inner surface of the first ring-formed component 11, and hollow-type harmonized reduction gears 13,14 which rotate the first and second ring-formed components 11,12 relatively around their respective centers. A resolver is positioned between the first and second ring-formed components 11,12 and the hollow-type harmonized reduction gears 13,14 to detect the rotating angular position of the first and second ring-formed components 11,12. A fulcrum bearing 8 of the rotating shaft 2 is located at a midpoint between the drill bit and the first and second ring formed components 11,12. A flexible joint 3 is located at the upper portion of the first and second ring-formed components 11,12 and a bearing 15 is further mounted on the flexible joint in order to support the rotating shaft 1.

A drilling device is, in general, employed for the purposes of drilling holes to collect underground resources or for civil engineering construction. In particular, a rotary type drilling device is a typical type thereof to drill efficiently a well conduit which is located at an extensive depth to a certain level of the stratum, to collect underground liquid resources including petroleum, natural gas, or geothermal vapor. For the aforementioned type of drilling device, it is indispensable to adapt the controlling device to be equipped at the distal end portion of said drilling device to control the moving direction of the drill bit so that the drilling bit can deviate when it faces a hard rock plate, resulting in the drilling operation proceeding efficiently without any undesired interruption. Furthermore, in a case when the drilling direction misses its aiming direction due to unexpected causes, it is also necessary to employ a controlling device at the distal end portion of the drilling device to correct the drilling direction to the original target direction.
Conventionally, several controlling mechanisms which are adapted to the rotary type drill bit have been proposed to correct the drilling direction, including those disclosed in Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 57-21695, Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 57-100290 and Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 58-210300. However, the controlling mechanism disclosed in any one of the aforementioned patents is unable to control the drilling direction in all directions. Moreover, the controlling mechanism in said prior arts was complicated. These are disadvantages associated with the conventional types of devices for controlling the drilling direction.
Recently, another controlling, mechanism has been proposed in a disclosure of the Japan Patent. Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-76183. The proposed mechanism consists principally of a plurality of the hollow-type harmonized reduction gear, a plurality of the eccentric rotating component equipped with an eccentric hollow portion which is connected to respective outputs of said hollow-type harmonized reduction gear and rotates in an eccentric manner with respect to a rotating shaft of each reduction gear, and a rotating shaft for the drill bit which is equipped at the drilling device in such a manner that said drill bit is inserted through the hollow portion of said hollow-type harmonized reduction gear and the eccentric hollow portion of the eccentric rotating component. The above structures enable the rotating shaft to change direction and location approximately along the direction of a central axial line of the shaft due to a restricting action of the inner peripheral surface of the eccentrically rotating eccentric hollow portion.
Furthermore, yet another controlling mechanism (Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-149079) has been proposed. The proposed controlling mechanism comprises (1) first and second hollow-type harmonized reduction gears which are provided co-axially to each other, (2) a first ring-formed component which is located in a co-axial manner with respect to said first hollow-type harmonized reduction gear and rotates by said reduction gear, and (3) a second ring-formed component which is coaxially located with respect to said second hollow-type harmonized reduction gear and rotates by said reduction gear. Ring-formed end portions of said first and second ring-formed components overlap each other to intake a relative rotation possible. The end region of the thus overlapped portion is defined at the slant surface which is inclined with a certain angle. A rotating shaft for the drilling bit is inserted through a hollow portion of said first and second ring-formed components. By rotating relatively these first and second ring-formed components, a deflection can be provided along a certain direction on the rotating shaft.
Moreover, still another controlling mechanism has been proposed in Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-202689, as seen in FIG. 16, which consists of (1) a cylinder-type housing 601, (2) a first ring-formed component 602 which is rotatably supported on a circular inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-type housing 601 and is provided with a circular inner peripheral surface which is eccentric with respect to said cylinder-type housing 601, (3) a second ring-formed component 603 which is rotatably supported on a circular inner peripheral surface of the first ring-formed component 602 and is provided with a circular inner peripheral surface which is eccentric with respect to said circular inner peripheral surface, and (4) hollow-type harmonized reduction gears 604,605 which rotate the aforementioned first and second ring-formed components 602,603 along their central axes. Having with the above structures, an amount of the eccentricity of the circular inner peripheral surface of the first ring-formed component 602 with respect to the cylinder-type housing 601 is set to be equal to the amount of the eccentricity of the circular inner peripheral surface of the second ring-formed component 603 with respect to the first ring-formed component 602. A rotating shaft 607 having a drill bit 606 at its distal end portion is connected to the second ring-formed component 603 in order to move along with a center portion of the circular inner peripheral surface of the second ring-formed component 603. Moreover, the rotating shaft 607 can be positioned with respect to a fulcrum bearing 608 as a fulcrum point by rotating, respectively, the first and second ring-formed components 602,603.
With all of the aforementioned controlling devices for the drilling direction of drill bits, since the fulcrum point of the deflection of the rotating shaft is located at the upper supporting mechanism for the shaft of the controlling device for the drill bit, there is a risk of fracture due to an excess bending stress which would be caused by the deflection provided at the rotating shaft.
In the above drills, if the deflection, which is subjected to the rotating shaft when the drill direction is deviated, is absorbed by providing a universal joint at the location at which the maximum bending stress takes place on the rotating shaft, then the damage on the rotating shaft due to the excess bending stress can be prevented.
Furthermore, it is necessary to protect the device for controlling the drilling direction from high temperature and high pressure hostile environment, since the drills are normally utilized in the area close to the bottom of oil or gas well conduits. Moreover, the lubricant oil, which is filled and sealed in a ring-shaped space defined with the cylinder-type housing being provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, is required to be sealed in a water-proof manner by sealing materials which are mounted at both ends of said cylinder-type housing.
With the conventional types of drills, the lubricant oil is filled and sealed inside the cylinder-type housings at ambient pressure and temperature on the ground level. When the drills are used in the bottom portion of well conduits, the lubricant oil will be indirectly exposed to high temperature and pressure. Hence, changes in pressure due to volume expansion will take place. Under these circumstances, if the pressure difference with the pressure of the surrounding muddy water exceeds the threshold pressure difference at seals which are located at both ends of the cylinder-type housings, the lubricant oil will leak out, or the muddy water will leak in. These might cause the controlling device to be inoperative.
Conventionally, a double seal mechanism has been employed as a sealing device between the cylinder-type housing and the rotating shaft, as seen in FIGS. 4a and 4f, disclosed in Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 57-21695 (US 6/158948).
Although the direction and magnitude of the deflection to which the rotating shaft is subjected can be determined by the position of the rotating angles of the first and second circular components in the aforementioned types of devices for controlling the drilling direction, such a detecting mechanism was not described in said Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-202689. Furthermore, said Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-202689 employed a pulse-counting method (normally using a photo sensor or an eddy current sensor) by which, as seen in FIG. 17(a), a gear 702 is provided at the surface of the rotating body 701; and pulses, shown in FIG. 17(b), which detect the number of gears passing through during the rotation, are counted by using a sensor 703.
In summary, the devices for controlling the drilling direction described in Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-76183, Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-149079 and Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-202689 exhibit the following technical problems.
(A) The thrust bearing, which bears the bit load, functions as a supporting mechanism for an upper rotating shaft of the device for controlling the drilling direction, and the bit load acts up to this location of the rotating shaft.
(B) Although the direction and magnitude of the deflection of the rotating shaft can be determined by knowing the rotating angular position of the first and second ring-formed components, it is difficult to maintain the original reference point for detecting the rotating angular position if a conventional type of pulse-counting method (normally using a photo sensor or an eddy current sensor) is employed. Moreover, it is more difficult to detect the rotating angular position with a satisfactory accuracy under the hostile environment at the bottom portion of the well conduits where the high temperature and pressure exist several hundreds or thousands of meters underneath the ground surface, although it could be achieved by adjusting the measuring accuracy on the ground.
(C) The fulcrum of the deflection of the rotating shaft functions as a supporting mechanism for the upper shaft of the device for controlling the drilling direction, resulting in the distance from the fulcrum to lower sealing mechanism becoming longer, and the magnitude of the eccentricity of the shaft at the lower sealing portion will become larger when the rotating shaft deflects. Accordingly, the structure of the sealing mechanism will become more complicated and the design for the sealing mechanism will become more difficult. Furthermore, the bending angle of the rotating shaft can not be made large due to the restriction from the sealing mechanism per se.
(D) The double eccentric mechanism supports the rotating shaft right above the drill bit. Hence the vibration during the drilling operation will transfer directly and instantaneously to the eccentric mechanism. This might cause a problem with regard to the structural integrity.
As a result, since the conventional type of controlling device controls the drilling direction by using the lateral load of the drill bit, then the quantity of lateral load of the drill bit will be extensively altered by the changes in the bit load due to the weak rigidity of the rotating shaft. In the worst case, the drill bit might turn to the opposite direction from the desired direction. This is an another major disadvantage associated with the conventional types.
Furthermore, the universal joint, which is utilized in the conventional type of devices for controlling the drilling direction, connects two eccentric driving shafts that are employed for driving the rotating machines and transfers only the rotating force. Unfortunately, any type of universal joint which can be utilized in locations where a fluid is flowing inside such drill pipes is not yet known.
Moreover, the double ring seals, which are located between the cylinder-type housing and the rotating shaft in the conventional type of devices for controlling the drilling direction, can not only respond to the changes in pressure of the lubricant oil which is filled and sealed between cylinder-type housing and the rotating shaft in the device for controlling the drilling direction of the drills, but also can not follow the changes in displacement along a direction perpendicular to the shaft axis of the rotating shaft when the drilling direction is required to change. Furthermore, the aforementioned type of sealing mechanisms exhibits a lower endurance due to the sliding movement of the displacement along the direction perpendicular to the shaft axis and the leaking-out of the lubricant oil and leaking-in of the muddy water can not be prevented.
Furthermore, the pulse-counting method to detect the position of the rotating angle of the first and second ring-formed components which are equipped in the device for controlling the drilling direction possesses the following technical drawbacks.
(a) It can only detect the position if the distance between the detecting sensor and the object is within several millimeters. In particular, the photo sensor is prone to be degraded due to the contaminated lubricant oil, resulting in a malfunction or a disability of the detection.
(b) An additional sensor, which is exclusively used for detecting the original reference point for the controlling purpose, is needed, causing a more complicated program for the angle detection.
(c) Although it is easy to control the original reference point on the ground level, it will become difficult to maintain said original reference point and nearly impossible to perform a satisfactorily accurate detection under the high temperature and pressure several hundreds or thousands of meters underneath the ground surface.
(d) Since the eddy current sensor is susceptible to being influenced by the noises due to the high frequency signals, it will be nearly impossible to conduct a accurate detection satisfactorily for cases of oil drilling operations by which the cable length between the sensor and the controlling unit could be on the order of several hundreds or thousands of meters under the ground level.
All of the foregoing have resulted in a requirement for the device of the present invention whose primary objective is to provide a device for controlling the drilling direction of the drill by which the positions of the rotating angles of the first and second ring-formed components can be detected with a satisfactory accuracy at the bottom portion of well conduits under high temperature and pressure. This means that (i) the magnitude of the displacement along the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating shaft at the lower sealing portion can be minimized, (ii) the adverse action of the bit load and vibration during the drilling operation on the eccentric mechanism portion--which is a relatively weak structure--can be controlled, (iii) and the rigidity of the rotating shaft above the drill bit can be enhanced.
The second objective of the present invention is to provide a hollow universal joint for drills by which the deflection generated at the rotating shaft can be released by said device for controlling the drilling direction, and the flowing-out of the muddy water, which is flowing inside the rotating shaft, can be prevented.
The third objective of the present invention is to provide pressure-equalizing equipment and sealing equipment for the device for controlling the drilling direction, by which leaking-out of the lubricant oil which has been filled and sealed in the said controlling device and leaking-in of the muddy water can be prevented for a long period of time.
The fourth objective of the present invention is to provide angle-detecting equipment by which (regardless of the distance between the detecting sensor and the object and the presence of contaminated lubricant oil that has been filled and sealed into said device for controlling the drilling direction) an absolute value of the angle from the original reference point of the first and second ring-formed components can be accurately and stably detected under the presence of hostile environments including the high temperature and pressure at the bottom area of the well conduits, which are normally located at several hundreds or thousands of meters underneath the ground surface ground; detection of the original reference point and angle can be achieved by using only one sensor; and the undesired attenuation due to length of cables between the sensor and the controlling device and noises will hardly influence the detection accuracy.

Device for controlling the drilling direction of drill bit


In a method of superimposing data of a character (mark) on video data, the superimposed video data being subjected to a data compression processing for extracting video data within each of blocks from one frame of the superimposed video data and for data-compressing the extracted video data, the blocks forming one frame, the each block including a predetermined number of two-dimensionally arranged pixels of the superimposed video data, a position of the character superimposed on the video data with respect to a lump of the blocks, where the character is to be imposed, is determined such that the number of blocks over which the character spreads is minimized when a size and a shape of the character or the mark are unchanged. In the method, at least a portion of a body of the character at a middle portion of the block and an outline of the character near a boundary of the block are arranged, or a horizontal (vertical) size of the character in accordance with a natural number times the number of horizontally (vertically) arranged pixels out of the two-dimensionally arranged pixels within the block. Thus, noise occurring around the character at blocks where the character exists is made inconspicuous.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of superimposing data of a character or a mark, such as @, and .fwdarw., on video data, the video data including the superimposed data being subjected to a data compression processing in which the video data including the superimposed data within a block of pixels are extracted from one frame of the video data including the superimposed data and a data compression is effected at every block of pixels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior art method of superimposing data of a character or a mark on video data in a digital VTR (video tape recorder) is known. In such a digital VTR, the band compression (data compression) of video data is carried out to reduce an amount of tape consumption. Therefore, an image of the superimposed character of a mark is affected by the band compression because a character or mark has steep edges.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of a video data compression unit 23 for effecting a video data compression processing. FIG. 6 is an illustration of a DCT coefficient block for showing the zigzag scanning operation carried out in the prior art video data compression unit shown in FIG. 5. FIGS. 5 and 6 are used in the embodiment of this invention also.
An extraction circuit 10 consecutively extracts data of a DCT (Discrete cosine Transform) block including 8.times.8 pixels from one frame of video data. The extracted data is supplied to a DCT circuit 1 (8.times.8 DCT). The DCT circuit I supplies 8.times.8 conversion coefficients obtained by the two-dimensional discrete cosine transforming to a linear quantizer 2. The linear quantizer 2 effects the linear quantizing with a quantizing matrix obtained by multiplying a reference quantizing matrix supplied from a quantizing matrix generator 3 (quantizing matrix) by a scaling factor S with a multiplier 4 to provide a dc conversion coefficient 2a and ac conversion coefficients 2b which are supplied to a one-dimensional predictive unit 5 and a zigzag scanner 7 respectively. The one-dimensional predictive unit 5 compresses an amount of data of the dc conversion coefficients 2a successively incoming from the linear quantizer 2 and supplies the compressed data to a first Huffman coder 6. The first Huffman coder 6 effects a Huffman coding and sends the result to a multiplexer 9.
The zigzag scanner 7 scans the ac conversion coefficient 2b zigzag from low to high spatial frequencies as shown in FIG. 6 and sends the result to a second Huffman coder 8. The second Huffman coder 8 produces Huffman codes from a run length of coefficients indicting "0" and from a coefficient of not "0" similarly and send them to a multiplexer 9. The multiplexer 9 multiplexes the output of the first Huffman coder 6 and the output of the second Huffman coder 8 to produce and send a multiplexed signal 9a to a transmission line (not shown). The multiplexed signal including the first and second Huffman codes is recorded on a magnetic tape (not shown).
The scaling factor S is provided for controlling an amount of codes included in the multiplexed signal 9a per one field to a constant; otherwise the amount of codes included in the multiplexed signal 9a will vary in accordance with input video data because a variable code length is used in the data compression mentioned above.
However, there is a problem that in the digital VTR effecting the video data compression in which video data within a block of pixels are extracted from one frame of the superimposed video data and data compression is effected at every block of pixels, the picture quality of an image around the character or mark is affected in accordance with a position or shape of a character.
More specifically, in the video band compression apparatus, one frame of a luminance signal is sampled at a matrix having 480 (vertical).times.720 (horizontal) pixels. The sampled data are divided into blocks, each having 8.times.8 pixels, that is, into 60 (vertical).times.90 (horizontal) blocks.
In such an image data compression apparatus using the DCT processing and in a general image data compression processing, a compression processing error (compression distortion) occurs at a steep edge or at a portion having a high frequency components. In this video data compression processing using the DCT, this compression processing error is referred to as "mosquito noise".
Generally, a character or a mark superimposed on an reproduced image in an analog or digital VTR has a size corresponding to 32 (vertical).times.16 (horizontal) pixels in the case of the above-mentioned parameters. FIGS. 7A to 7C are schematic illustration for showing a superimposed character through a prior art superimposing processing. When a character "5" is superimposed at a given position with respect to the matrix of the blocks (32.times.16) as shown in FIG. 7A, each block having 8.times.8 pixels, there arises an occasion the character "5" is superimposed spreads over 15 blocks as shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. 7B is a partial illustrations of FIG. 7A. In FIG. 7B, there are edges having low vertical and horizontal correlation in the block, so that the mosquito noise occurs in the block. Moreover, there is a tendency that the noise occurring around the character is visually prominent.

Method of superimposing data of character on video data


The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a fin active region formed on a semiconductor substrate; a channel region of a first type conductivity, defined in the fin active region and having a first carrier concentration; and an anti-punch through (APT) feature of the first type conductivity, wherein the APT feature is formed in the semiconductor substrate, is directly underlying the channel region, and has a second carrier concentration greater than the first carrier concentration.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced exponential growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs.
Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized. Similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. For example, a three dimensional transistor, such as a fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET), has been introduced to replace a planar transistor. Furthermore, extreme ultraviolet lithography is also introduced for forming IC patterns. Although existing FinFET devices and methods of fabricating FinFET devices have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects. For example, anti-punch-through implantation cannot be properly implemented due to the shadow effect or degradation of the mobility due to dopant residual in the channel region. Therefore, what is needed is the structure for integrated circuit structure and the method making the same to address the above issue.

Integrated circuit structure and method with solid phase diffusion

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A piezoelectric measuring element comprises at least one bar with transverse effect which can be used with two conductor technology. Poles comprising the metallizations, electrodes and lines in the measuring element are embodied with one or more piezoelectric bars with transverse effect such that the electric capacitances thereof with respect to the housing are identical. There can be a completely symmetrical design of the poles. A capacitor from one pole to the housing can correspond to the difference in capacitance of both poles to the environment.

Piezoelectric measuring elements are used in a plurality of applications, for example in pressure, force, elongation or in acceleration sensors. During a measurement a body made of piezoelectric material is subjected to a mechanical strain whereby electrical charge is generated at particular surfaces of the body. This charge is collected and led to a cable connection by means of electrodes. Eventually, the cable transmits the charge to an amplifier which may also be a preamplifier.
Basically, there are two different possibilities for the transmission of the charge to the amplifier, namely using a coaxial cable or using a two conductor cable. If a coaxial cable is used the measurement data are transmitted from the first electrode to the inner conductor while the other electrode can lie on mass potential and can be connected to the shielding which protects the measurement line from external interfering fields. In addition, a second shielding can be provided by means of a triaxial cable. In contrast, if a two conductor cable is used the two electrodes are connected with two leads of a cable which itself can be shielded as a whole in a single or dual manner. At the amplifier, the charge difference between the two leads is evaluated. Since the leads are exposed to the same interfering fields no alteration in the charge difference results from an interfering field.
Applications using the two conductor technology are for example measuring elements having one or more piezoelectric plates with longitudinal effect. Longitudinal effect means that the charge is generated at those surfaces at which the force is introduced. These surfaces are most often metallised to collect the charge. Metallisations with the same polarization are each connected to one electrode and the electrode is provided with one of the two conductors. Since the metallised surfaces are under load a good contact of adjacent surfaces is always ensured.
Applications using the coaxial technology also comprise measuring elements having one or more piezoelectric plates with longitudinal effect the electrodes of which are connected to the inner conductor and the shielding, respectively. On the other hand, also the use of bars with transverse effect made of piezoelectric material with the coaxial technology is known. Transverse effect means that the surfaces at which charge is generated under load are positioned perpendicularly to the surfaces at which the load is introduced. EP 1 283 552 describes an application of this type comprising one, WO 2005/026678 an application comprising several bar crystals with transverse effect. In these cases, the electrodes which collect the charges are electrically connected to metallisations on the force-introducing surfaces ensuring a good contact for collecting the charge.
The advantage of piezoelectric bars with transverse effect over such plates with longitudinal effect lies in their sensitivity and in the cost-performance ratio. To obtain the same sensitivity which can be achieved with a thin bar with plates a plate stack of many plates must be used which is much more expensive than the bar and in addition also considerably high. To further increase the stability and the sensitivity of measuring elements containing bars also several or thinner bars can be used as mentioned in WO 2005/026678. In this application the electrodes are also electrically connected to metallisations on the two force-introducing surfaces of the piezoelectric bars whereby a good contact is obtained.
Another application using several bars is also known from FIG. 2 of EP 1 283 552. There, three bars are arranged in a triangle wherein in the interior of the triangle a spring receives the charge as the first electrode while the spring at the same time presses the external walls of the crystals to a metallic wall which is the second electrode.
The advantage of the two conductor technology compared to the coaxial technology is the ground insulation. Every measuring element with two conductor technology is inevitably ground insulated while a measuring element using coaxial technology often has an electrode on the mass potential. Only by an elaborate assembly using insulation rings and shields of the measuring element is a ground insulation obtained. This is for example requisite in the case of combustion engines due to the long signal leads to prevent interference by compensating voltages in ground connections, so called ground loops. It must be noted that the use of a sensor in a combustion engine requires a temperature stability of at least 300° C. This necessitates particular elements withstanding these temperatures.
It is not possible to use the known bars with transverse effect in two conductor technology since the individual electrodes due to the construction are subject to different interfering fields thus biasing the measurement signal.

Piezoelectric measuring element with transverse effect and sensor comprising such a measuring element


An apparatus for displaying a banner includes left and right end pieces, each including a hinged bracket. Each bracket includes a guide portion having a substantially planar guide surface, and a hook portion. Cross-members extend between the end pieces to form a generally rectangular display fame. A light bar is provided which fits into cut-away portions of the brackets. A second display frame with brackets is also provided with cut-away portions for the light bar.

Display banners or other types of elongated display mediums are often utilized to display information in an eye-catching manner. For example, it is common practice within the trade-show industry to use such banners to attract potential customers or clients to a particular trade-show display booth.
Trade-show display booths have various sizes and shapes and include a wide range of structural designs. For example, trade-show booths often incorporate collapsible, self-standing display structures that define curved display walls. For aesthetic reasons, it is desirable to span display banners across the fronts of the curved walls. Display banners are typically manufactured of flexible materials such as flexible plastic or fabric material. Because the banners are generally flexible in nature, rigid frames are often used to provide support for preventing the banners from sagging. U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,369 discloses an exemplary display frame having resilient connectors for interconnecting the various components of the frame.
Trade-show display banners are also commonly spanned between structures so as to form display "bridges". Once again, because the banners are typically made of flexible materials, rigid display frames are often used to prevent the banners from sagging. The use of rigid frames insures that the banners are presented in a clear, easy to read, and aesthetically pleasing manner. Often, the presentation and visibility of the banners is further enhanced through the use of lighting secured behind the banners.
The mobile nature of the trade-show industry presents special concerns to suppliers of rigid display frames. For example, one concern relates to providing display frames that can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. Another concern relates to providing display frames that are compact when disassembled. A further concern relates to providing display frames that are light weight, substantially rigid when assembled, and capable of providing large graphic display areas. Additional concerns relate to providing display frames that are durable, cost effective to manufacture, and aesthetically pleasing. The present invention addresses these concerns as well as other concerns.

Connectors, display frame apparatus and method of use


The device and method are used for heating a central section of a rotor mounted for rotation in a gas turbine engine.

When starting a cold gas turbine engine, the temperature increases very rapidly in the outer section of its rotors. On the other hand, the temperature of the material around the central section of these rotors increases only gradually, generally through heat conduction so that a central section will only reach its maximum operating temperature after a relatively long running time. Meanwhile, the thermal gradients inside the rotors generate thermal stresses. These transient thermal stresses require that some of the most affected regions of the rotors be designed thicker or larger. The choice of material can also be influenced by these stresses, as well as the useful life of the rotors.
Overall, it is highly desirable to obtain a reduction of the transient thermal stresses in a rotor of a gas turbine engine because such reduction would have a positive impact on the useful life and/or the physical characteristics of the rotor, such as its weight, size or shape.

Eddy current heating for reducing transient thermal stresses in a rotor of a gas turbine engine


An apparatus and method are provided to rapidly thaw and heat frozen bags of biological materials, such as plasma. The apparatus has a hollow bladder having a flexible wall that is placed in contact with the bag. A circulation system draws fluid from a reservoir and fills the bladder with the fluid. The circulation system also drains fluid from the bladder. A heater in the reservoir heats the fluid before the fluid enters the bladder. As heated fluid flows through the bladder, heat is transferred through the bladder wall to the plasma bag to thaw the biological material. The bladder wall expands against the plasma bag as the bladder fills with fluid, and contracts from the plasma bag as the bladder is drained. The expansion and contraction of the bladder wall agitates the plasma bag and biological material to accelerate the thawing process.

In the present state of the art, plasma and other biological materials are stored in a frozen state to preserve the materials for subsequent use in a patient. In many cases, it is desirable to thaw frozen biological materials rapidly. For example, frozen plasma must be thawed rapidly to be used in emergency situations. Rapid thawing is also desirable to limit the amount of time that thawed plasma sits in storage. Thawed plasma has a limited shelf life, and coagulant factors in thawed plasma can degrade in a relatively short amount of time. When thawing time is long, medical professionals often take many frozen units of plasma out of cold storage in advance of an operation, so that they have a large volume of thawed plasma available by the time the operation begins. This can result in wasted plasma if some of the units are not used. Rapid thawing allows medical professionals to order frozen units of plasma on an as-needed basis, reducing the potential for wasted plasma.

Apparatus and method for thawing biological materials