A pole piece for use in an electromagnetic friction clutch is formed by initially providing a preform formed from a magnetically permeable material, such as a ferromagnetic powdered material. The preform includes a face having one or more concentric annular channels or other recessed areas formed therein. The preform is oriented such that the face thereof faces upwardly. Then, a body of a non-magnetically permeable material, such as a non-ferromagnetic material, is laid upon the face of the preform so as to cover at least a portion of the annular channels or other recessed area. The preform and the solid body are next inserted within a sintering oven which heats them to a predetermined temperature. The elevated temperature of the oven causes the solid body of the non-magnetically permeable material to melt and flow into the annular channels or other recessed areas. Some of the melted non-magnetically permeable material also infiltrates into the relatively porous preform of the magnetically permeable material. At the same time, the elevated temperature sinters the magnetically permeable material of the preform and bonds the non-magnetically permeable material thereto to form the pole piece. Subsequently, the cooled pole piece can be machined as desired.

This invention relates in general to electromagnetically actuated friction clutches and in particular to an improved structure for and method of manufacturing a pole piece for use in such an electromagnetic friction clutch.
Clutches are well known devices which are commonly used in machinery to selectively connect a source of rotational power to a rotatably driven mechanism. A basic clutch structure includes an input shaft connected to the source of rotational power, an output shaft connected to the rotatably driven mechanism, and means for selectively connecting the input shaft to the output shaft for concurrent rotation. When the means for selectively connecting is engaged, the input shaft is connected to the output shaft so as to rotatably drive the mechanism. When the means for selectively connecting is disengaged, the input shaft is disconnected from the output shaft, and the mechanism is not rotatably driven. Many different types of clutches are known in the art for accomplishing this general purpose.
In some clutches, the input shaft is connected to an input member which is rotatably driven by the source of rotational power, while the output shaft is connected to an armature. The input member is fixed in a predetermined axial position. The armature, however, is axially movable relative to the input member between an engaged position, wherein it functionally engages the input member, and a disengaged position, wherein it is spaced apart from the input member. The armature is normally maintained in the disengaged position, wherein it does not frictionally engage the input member and, therefore, is not rotatably driven thereby. When moved to the engaged position, however, the armature frictionally engages the input member so as to be rotatably driven thereby. Friction clutches of this general type are well known in the art.
In some friction clutches, an electromagnet is used to cause selective movement of the armature relative to the input member between the engaged and disengaged positions. Electromagnetically actuated friction clutches of this general type operate on the principle that a magnetic field which is created about a component formed from a magnetically permeable material will exert a mechanical force on that component. This mechanical force will urge the component to move to a position of minimum resistance relative to the flow of magnetic flux (lines of force) generated by the magnetic field, usually referred to as a position of minimum reluctance. Thus, in electromagnetically actuated friction clutches, the input member and the armature are both formed from a magnetically permeable material. When the electromagnet is energized, the electromagnetic field generated thereby attracts the armature toward the input member. As a result, the armature is moved from the disengaged position to the engaged position to connect the input shaft to the output shaft, and the driven device is rotatably driven by the source of rotational power.
A typical pole piece for an electromagnetically actuated friction clutch has a generally U-shaped cross section, defining a flat pole face which is separated from the armature by a relative small air gap. Usually, the pole face of the pole piece is divided into one or more pole regions by a non-magnetically permeable material. The separate pole regions causes the magnetic flux to jump back and forth several times across the air gap separating the input member and the armature when the electromagnet is energized. As is well known, this magnetic flux discontinuity structure, or more simply flux break, increases the magnitude of the magnetic attraction between the input member and the armature. In the past, the flux break, has been accomplished by forming slots or recesses in the pole face which define relatively large air gaps between adjacent pole regions of the magnetically permeable material. Although effective to increase the magnetic attraction between the pole piece and the armature, it has been found that the formation of such slots or other recesses in pole face necessitates the removal of material from the pole piece, which weakens the strength thereof. Electromagnetic clutches of this type are often used to selectively transmit relatively high torque loads. Consequently, any weaknesses in the pole piece detract from the torque transmitting capacity of the electromagnetic clutch. Furthermore, because electromagnetic clutches of this type are often used in automotive applications, such as in air conditioner compressor assemblies, they must be relatively simple and inexpensive in construction. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for a pole piece for an electromagnetic friction clutch which addresses all of these concerns.

Method for manufacturing a pole piece for electromagnetic friction clutch


A method for correcting a touch position and applied to an electronic apparatus is provided. The method includes: receiving a current touch event; obtaining prediction information of the current touch event based on correction information of a previous touch event which is received at a previous time point before the current touch event; obtaining correction information of the current touch event according to the prediction information and a measuring position of the current touch event; and updating a position of the current touch event at a display unit by using the correction information of the current touch event.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a touch technology and, more particularly, to a method for correcting a touch position.
2. Description of the Related Art
As touch control technology and various application programs of electronic products develop rapidly, a touch control panel is widely used. A touch control panel of electronic products is touched to select and operate the electronic products according to a touch position on the touch control panel. For example, a cursor moves along with that the user fingers slide or drag at the touch control panel. However, an inconstant sliding speed or a slight shake of the fingers would result in frame jitter due to a system measuring error.
A liner regression algorithm, an interpolation or an extrapolation are usually used to solve the frame jitter problem. When the liner regression algorithm is used, information relative to a large amount of touch events are collected, and as the amount of collected information increases, the corrected touch operation at the screen is smoother. However, as the amount of information increases, calculating time becomes longer and reaction becomes slower. Furthermore, the interpolation or the extrapolation cannot execute a optimize process in a slow sliding, and thus the problem of frame jitter still exists in a slow sliding.


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for ordering a plurality of write commands associated with a storage device. In operation, a plurality of write commands associated with a storage device to be sent to a device are identified. Additionally, an order of the plurality of write commands is determined, the determined order being known by the device. Further, the plurality of write commands are ordered in the determined order.

Storage systems may include many devices including storage device and other devices connected to and/or in communication with the storage devices. These devices in communication with the storage devices often need to access commands and/or data associated with the storage devices. In many different types of storage systems, commands are queued and the commands are executed in a random order.
The Serial ATA (SATA) computer bus is one storage-interface for connecting host bus adapters to storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives, etc. Currently, in SATA systems and other comparable systems, commands are queued and the order that the commands are executed is random. A device connected to a SATA drive does not have any knowledge as to the order the write commands will be executed.
Thus, the device attached to a SATA drive may not pre-fetch write data unless it has enough resources to pre-fetch write data for all of the commands. Pre-fetching for all commands is very costly because pre-fetching all commands requires the use of a large portion of memory. Additionally, this pre-fetching may not add performance because the command being executed may not necessarily be the command for which data has been pre-fetched. There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ordering a plurality of write commands associated with a storage device


An apparatus and method for reducing the data rate in a network using a delay processor. Since an increase in the data rate can overwhelm parts of the network hardware, such as a router, a delay processor is introduced so that data is delayed by a fixed amount so as to lower the data rate. A configuration table determines the amount of delay. A slowly changing amount of delay can be used in place of a fixed amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the data rate in a network and more particularly to a method and apparatus for controlling the data rate between two processors on an Internet protocol network by adding a fixed latency
2. Discussion of the Background
While a number of different types of network systems are in use, one of the common arrangements is a network based on the TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol). This combined protocol is used to implement the Internet and also private networks such as Intranets. This arrangement provides for reliable delivery of sequenced packets of information across the Internet. An acknowledgment system is utilized so that the sending device will know that the data has been received. A timing mechanism can be used so that if an acknowledgment is not received within a certain amount of time, the packet is retransmitted. This particular system is well known and widely used.
An example of such a system is shown in FIG. 1 where an Internet protocol network 10 is shown connecting a client processor 12 with various server processors 14 and 16. The network includes routers 18 and 20 which control the flow of data on the network. One problem which can occur is the overloading of the router which causes it to crash when the data rate increases temporarily beyond the capability of the router. This problem has sometimes been addressed by attempting to control the data rate in the network.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,357 which is assigned to Packeteer, Inc., describes the use of TCP/IP protocols and their use in networks. This device attempts to pace the data flow by arranging data transmission over a period of time after determining a round trip time for the data.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,980, which is assigned to the same company, utilizes packet parsing based on content. That is, the packets are classified and a particular rule is applied according to their classification.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,216, also assigned to Packeteer, Inc. shows data rate control without data rate supervision. Latency is added to the acknowledgment packet and the size of the flow control window is adjusted to control the data rate.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,235 shows a method for quality of service management where the round trip time of the data is determined and delaying transmission of a receive acknowledgment signal when the bit rate is greater than a bit rate limit.
Similarly, other patents describe the measurement of the data flow in order to control in some fashion the data rate in a network.
While various solutions are possible for this type of problem, they often involve making major changes of some kind in either the client processor or the server processor which may be difficult and expensive. It would be advantageous to correct the problem merely by making adjustments of some sort in the network itself rather than requiring changes to either the client processor or server processors.

Data rate adjuster using transport latency


A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveyance guide that is supported by a frame so as to be able to be lifted and lowered, and guides a medium to a conveyance path by sliding along one surface of the medium, a conveyance roller that is rotatably supported by the frame, and conveys the medium by coming into contact with an other surface of the medium, the other surface being on the reverse side of the one surface, and a pinch roller that is supported by the frame so as to be able to be lifted and lowered, and presses the medium against the conveyance roller by coming into contact with the one surface of the medium, wherein the conveyance guide lifts or lowers the pinch roller relatively to the frame, by being lifted or lowered relatively to the frame.

An image reading apparatus, which conveys a medium by causing the medium to make a U-turn, has been known. The installation space for this image reading apparatus is able to be reduced by: provision of a medium stand at the rear of the image reading apparatus, the medium stand being where a medium to be fed is placed; and provision of a stacker above and in front of the medium stand, the stacker being where a medium that is ejected from the image reading apparatus is placed. This image reading apparatus further has a straight path where a medium is conveyed without being bent, and enables paths to be switched between each other such that when a thick medium is conveyed, the thick medium is conveyed onto the straight path. A medium conveying apparatus, which is able to appropriately convey both a thin medium and a thick medium, has been known (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-258964, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-328216, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 09-208079).
However, this medium conveying apparatus has a problem of being large in size because the diameters of its conveyance rolls need to be increased for a thick medium to be conveyed appropriately.


A hydrogen generator including a raw material supplying unit supplying a raw material containing a sulfur component and composed of an organic compound, a water supplying unit supplying water, a reformer producing hydrogen gas, the reformer provided with a reforming catalyst to make the raw material and water undergo a reaction, and a carbon monoxide removing unit reducing the content of carbon monoxide in hydrogen gas produced in the reformer, wherein the reforming catalyst is constituted by a carrier composed of platinum and a metal oxide is provided.

For a hydrogen generator of producing a gas containing a large amount of hydrogen from an organic raw material such as natural gas and naphtha, a steam reforming method of applying heat from an external source to cause a reaction between a raw material and water on a reforming catalyst is often used. As the reforming catalyst, a catalyst having an Ni based or Ru based catalyst carried on a carrier such as alumina is generally used.
The organic material often contains a sulfur containing component such as an odorant component of urban gas or a sulfur component existing originally in crude oil or the like, for example. The sulfur component is essentially a catalytic poison component for many catalysts. Particularly, in the steam reforming method in which a reaction proceeds under a reduced condition, a sulfur component tends to remain on a catalyst, and its catalyst toxicity becomes stronger to cause a decrease in steam reforming reactivity.
Thus, a desulfurization unit to remove a sulfur component in a raw material in advance is often used in combination with the hydrogen generator. For removing an odorant component of a gas such as urban gas, an absorbent material such as zeolite can be used. In addition, for industrial applications, a hydrodesulfurization method is used in which hydrogen is added to the raw material, the sulfur component is made to react into hydrogen sulfide using a catalyst for hydrogenation such as an Mo based catalyst, and then the hydrogen sulfide is removed with an absorbent such as zinc oxide.
Next, there is an autothermal method in which a part of hydrocarbon based fuel is oxidized, and heat generated by the oxidation is used to cause a reaction between the remaining fuel and water, as a typical method of producing a gas containing a large amount of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon based fuel, in addition to the steam reforming method. When comparing the steam reforming method with the autothermal method, one has features which the other does not have.
In the steam reforming method, a produced gas is balanced with steam, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide because no gas is introduced from the outside. In the autothermal method, the produced gas is balanced with steam, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen if air is used as an oxidizing gas. Therefore, the steam reforming method can provide a gas containing a higher concentration of hydrogen from a viewpoint of hydrogen concentration.
In addition, the hydrocarbon based fuel contains a sulfur containing component such as an odorant component of urban gas or a sulfur component existing originally in crude oil or the like, for example. The sulfur component is essentially a catalytic poison component for many catalysts. Under a reduced condition, in particular, the sulfur component tends to remain on a catalyst. The steam reforming method essentially allows the reaction to proceed under a reduced condition, resulting in stronger catalytic poison toxicity. On the other hand, the autothermal method alleviates a decrease in catalytic activity due to the introduction of oxidation gas, and is thus more advantageous in terms of sulfur resistance.
An invention has been devised such that the content of sulfur component in the raw material is reduced to 0.1 ppb or smaller in advance using a copper-zinc based desulfurizing agent as in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2765950, in order to take advantage of the feature of the steam reforming method providing a high concentration of hydrogen.
In addition, a catalyst having an Ni or Ru based catalyst carried on a carrier such as alumina is used in a reformer to perform steam reforming as a reforming catalyst for use in the steam reforming method, but the Ni based catalyst exhibiting its capability under a reduced condition suffers a decrease in catalytic activity when oxidized. Also, the Ru based catalyst is volatile under an oxidized condition at a high temperature and thus suffers a decrease in activity. Nevertheless, during normal operation, many of reforming catalysts are used under a reduced condition in the presence of produced hydrogen gas, and therefore they hardly suffer a decrease in catalytic activity due to oxidation.
However, at the time of starting operation and stopping operation, air is introduced from the outside of the apparatus, and those catalysts may be oxidized depending on starting and stopping conditions. Therefore, at the time of starting or stopping operation, an operation for replacing residual gases with an inert gas such as nitrogen so that the catalyst is not oxidized is often used in combination.
In addition, if a combustible gas such as hydrogen is entrained in the apparatus at the time of stopping operation, residual gases are generally replaced with the inert gas because the presence of the combustible gas is not desirable in terms of apparatus safety.
The Ru based reforming catalyst has essentially low resistance to sulfur. Thus, the desulfurization method using the above-mentioned method using an absorbent material or the hydrodesulfurization causes a decrease in catalytic activity due to the presence of a sulfur component not sufficiently removed.
Thus, an invention has been devised such that the content of sulfur component in the raw material is reduced to 0.01 ppb or smaller in advance using a desulfurizing agent as in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2765950. In this method, the catalytic activity can be retained because the content of sulfur component in the raw material is reduced to 0.01 ppb or smaller. However, a method in which the desulfurization characteristic is improved to retain a catalytic activity has many problems such that the configuration of apparatus is complicated; it is difficult to manage the level of desulfurization and so on.
On the other hand, the Ni based reforming catalyst has high resistance to sulfur compared with the Ru based catalyst. Therefore, the reforming catalyst is compatible with the desulfurization method using the above-mentioned method using an adsorbent material or the hydrodesulfurization method. However, this Ni based reforming catalyst exhibits its steam reforming feature under a reduced condition. Thus there is a problem such that the reduced condition must be maintained in the apparatus to prevent a situation in which the catalyst is oxidized, and consequently suffers a decrease in catalytic activity even at the time of stopping the apparatus.
In addition, in the hydrodesulfurization method of removing a sulfur component, hydrogen should be added to the raw material in advance. Provided that the apparatus is operated continuously, the hydrogen can be collected in part from the exit of the apparatus and used. However, hydrogen should be obtained in advance at the time of starting the apparatus. If considering a hydrogen generator as a plant scale apparatus, the necessity to obtain hydrogen does not pose a serious problem. However, if considering a compact-type hydrogen generator, for example a hydrogen generator as a domestic hydrogen source, the necessity to obtain hydrogen poses a serious problem.
Also in the autothermal method, on the other hand, it is essentially desired that the concentration of sulfur in the raw material is lower, and the catalyst reactivity is decreased if the sulfur concentration is high. In addition, there is a problem such that the method cannot prevent a decrease in hydrogen concentration fundamentally.
In addition, in the method in which a desulfurizing agent is used to remove the sulfur containing component in the raw material, the catalyst reactivity is varied depending on the desulfurization condition of the desulfurizing agent, and therefore a method of correctly observing the state of the desulfurizing agent is required. In addition, establishment of a method of determining the poisoning state of the catalyst to recover the activity easily is desired.
In short, the conventional hydrogen generator has as a first problem a problem such that a sulfur containing component contained in the raw material cannot be adequately dealt with.
Next, when the hydrogen generator is continuously operated, an oxidized condition is not created in the apparatus. Therefore, in the case of continuously operating hydrogen generator used for industrial applications or on plant scales, there is little decrease in activity due to oxidation of the catalyst.
When the hydrogen generator is used for domestic applications, however, the apparatus may be started and stopped frequently. If a power generating apparatus is operated for domestic applications, for example, operations to deal with a load change of power are required, and thus the operation of the power generating apparatus is started and stopped frequently. If a fuel cell power generating apparatus is introduced as the power generating apparatus, the hydrogen generator supplying hydrogen serving as a fuel is used in combination. Therefore, the operation of the hydrogen generator should be started and stopped frequently.
For domestic applications, however, it is not easy to obtain an inert gas with which residual gases in the apparatus is replaced in terms of costs and maintenance.
In short, the conventional hydrogen generator has as a second problem a problem such that it is difficult to replace gases in the apparatus effectively and safely at the time of starting and stopping the apparatus.

Hydrogen generator, fuel cell system and control method of hydrogen generator

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a host, an instruction to execute a command that instructs at least one system at a site and in communication with the host via one or more fiber channels to each execute a script, the script being for automatically shutting down components of the at least one system in an order defined by the script, and issuing the command to the at least one system at the site via the one or more fiber channels.

The present invention relates to computing, systems, and more specifically, this invention relates to systems, methods and computer program products for implementing an automated shutdown of a tiered system.
Conventional computing systems, for example, enterprise applications, typically possess tiered architectures. Tiered systems are typically constructed from a collection of components that combine to implement high-performance computing applications. Each of the components in the tiered system may be a separate, independent computing device interconnected with the other components via a communication medium, such as a network.
Tiered systems provide specialized solutions catering to different business aspects within an organization or across geographically distant installations. These systems further enable enterprises to operate critical tasks (e.g. data storage, archiving business records, etc.) with reduced involvement and individual know-how of the end-users (e.g. customers).
Management of tiered computing systems to maintain architectural integrity and performance of the computing systems is critical for providing continuous business operations. In the course or managing a tiered computing system, a situation may arise that requires the shutdown of a component and/or the entire system. For example, a potential or actual emergency (e.g., an earthquake, flood, fire, etc) or other immediate crises a power outage) may warrant shutdown. Additionally, shutdown may be necessary when an individual component and/or node within the multi-tiered system reaches a thermal failure or is exposed to an unexpected environment (e.g., blocked vents, fan failures, lab cooling failures, etc.).
Typically, the shutdown of a tiered system is complex and must occur according to a specified sequence. Improper shutdown may have disastrous effects, some as severe as the loss of customer data and loss of configuration. Consequently, the shutdown of a tiered system is usually only performed by a certified human operator and thus may be limited to the human operator's response time.

Automated shutdown methodology for a tiered system

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus for reporting a consumption time of a service or content in Audience Measurement (AM), which measures a user consumption pattern of the service or the content is provided. A method for reporting a consumption time of the service or the content in a terminal of a content transmission system includes receiving an encryption key for encrypting the service or the content from a broadcasting server and transmitting a message requesting interpretation of the encryption key to a smart card. The message includes consumption time information of the service or the content.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a content transmission system, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for providing an additional service such as a next-generation user-customized service by analyzing a user content consumption pattern.
2. Description of the Related Art
The mobile communication market is continuously requested to produce new services by recombining or integrating existing technologies. In line with the recent development of communication and broadcasting technologies, conventional broadcasting systems or mobile communication systems can now provide next-generation user-customized services through portable terminals, such as cellular phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like (terminals).
It is expected that a service for measuring a user consumption pattern and providing content or advertisements suitable for a user's tastes will be widely used in a broadcasting service or a content providing service as one of the next-generation user-customized services. A basic function of the service is Audience Measurement (AM). The basic function of AM records what services are consumed by a user, when the user consumes services, where the user consumes the services, how long the user consumes the services, and how the user consumes the services. The operation of AM includes AM command delivery, AM execution, and AM execution result reporting. AM data may be stored in a device for consuming content or a server managed by a service provider. The AM may be stored directly by an operator for operating a content transmission service or a third AM related operator on a network. Thus, terminals or smart cards for executing AM should be able to transmit an AM execution result report to an address of a server indicated by an AM command.
As mentioned above, AM may be implemented directly in a terminal or in a smart card connected to such terminal. When AM is implemented directly in a terminal, a timer or an embedded watch in the terminal may directly measure the consumption time of a service and content. On the other hand, when the AM function is embedded in a smart card, the consumption time of the service and the content cannot be directly measured. During the consumption of services or content, smart cards have been introduced in order to ensure the proper user has access and a service/content transmission path and a content protection function of preventing illegal use of content. In the service protection function, the smart card stores decryption keys for decrypting content and services encrypted through service protection and delivers the decryption keys to a terminal at the request of the terminal when the terminal tries to decrypt the encrypted content and services, thereby allowing the content and services to be decrypted and available to the user. The smart card having the embedded AM function uses a method of estimating a consumption time of content and a service by using a message which requests delivery of a decryption key for decrypting the content and the service when the terminal needs the decryption key.
In the foregoing conventional technique, when an AM server is managed by the same operator managing a server for providing the service protection function, a consumption time of a service or content can be estimated by using a frequency of a message used for a terminal to request a smart card to deliver a decryption key. However, when the AM server is managed by a third operator, there is no way for a smart card with an embedded AM function to report a consumption time of a service and content. Therefore, there is a need for a scheme capable of reporting a consumption time of a service and content in the smart card having an embedded AM function therein.

Method and apparatus for reporting audience measurement in content transmission system


A hub adapted to support an electromagnetic clutch and a hydraulic pump thereon is disclosed. The hub is generally hollow and cylindrical in shape, including a first annular mounting portion having an inner cylindrical mounting surface. The inner cylindrical mounting surface is sized to receive and precisely position therein a cylindrical flange of the hydraulic pump. The hub also includes an enlarged cylindrical flange portion disposed adjacent to the first mounting portion. A plurality of apertures are formed through the flange portion for securing it to an external mounting bracket. The hub further includes a second annular mounting portion having an outer cylindrical mounting surface. The outer cylindrical mounting surface is sized to receive and precisely position thereon a bearing assembly of the electromagnetic clutch. Thus, the hub provides precise co-axial mounting surfaces for both the hydraulic pump and the electromagnetic clutch. By mounting the hydraulic pump and the electromagnetic clutch in this manner, the rotational axes of the components thereof are precisely maintained co-axial during use.

This invention relates in general to pump and clutch assemblies and in particular to an improved structure for a hub adapted to support an electromagnetic clutch and a hydraulic pump thereon.
Hydraulic pumps are well known devices which are adapted to be mechanically driven so as to generate a flow of hydraulic fluid to a controlled device. For example, hydraulic pumps are frequently provided on refuse trucks for operating a hydraulically actuated ram. The hydraulic pump is mechanically connected to the engine of the vehicle so as to be driven thereby. In some applications, the hydraulic pump is constantly driven by the vehicle engine, and one or more control valves are provided for selectively operating the ram. While this structure is operable, it is rather inefficient because a significant amount of energy is consumed by the pump as it is constantly driven.
To address this, it is known to provide a clutch between the vehicle engine and the hydraulic pump such that the hydraulic pump is driven by the vehicle engine only when operation of the controlled device is desired. For example, electromagnetically actuated clutches have been provided for selectively connecting the vehicle engine to the hydraulic pump. Such an electromagnetic clutch typically includes a circular pulley or similar member which is connected by a belt or other means to the vehicle engine. Thus, the pulley is constantly rotatably driven by the vehicle engine. The electromagnetic clutch further includes an armature assembly which is selectively connected to the pulley for rotation therewith. The hydraulic pump has an input shaft which is connected to the armature assembly for rotation therewith. Thus, when the clutch is engaged, the hydraulic pump is driven to cause actuation of the controlled device. When the clutch is disengaged, the hydraulic pump is not driven, thereby preventing operation of the controlled device.
It is known to mount both the hydraulic pump and the electromagnetic clutch on a common support bracket or similar structure for convenience. However, known support brackets are deficient because the rotational axes of the armature assembly of the electromagnetic clutch and the input shaft of the hydraulic pump are not maintained precisely co-axial. As a result, premature wear on the bearings in both the electromagnetic clutch and the hydraulic pump can occur. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for supporting an electromagnetic clutch and a hydraulic pump which maintains the two components precisely co-axial during operation.

Supporting hub for clutch and pump assembly


The present invention relates to the use of cardiac hormones, particularly natriuretic peptides, for diagnosing the risk of suffering from a cardiovascular complication, particularly heart disease or acute coronary syndrome, as a consequence of cardiotoxic medication, in particular chemotherapeutics, including anthracyclines. In particular, the invention relates to a method for diagnosing the risk of a patient who is going to receive cardiotoxic medication of suffering from a cardiovascular complication as a consequence of the cardiotoxic medication, comprising the steps of (a) taking a body fluid or tissue sample, and (b) measuring, preferably in vitro, the level of a cardiac hormone. Preferred cardiac hormones in the context of the present invention are ANP, NT-proANP, BNP, and NT-proBNP.

An aim of modern medicine is to provide personalized or individualized treatment regimens. Those are treatment regimens which take into account a patient's individual needs or risks. A particularly important risk is the presence of a cardiovascular complication, particularly an unrecognized cardiovascular complication.
Cardiovascular complications, particularly heart diseases, are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western hemisphere. It is known that cardiovascular complications can result from certain medications, e.g. anthracycline treatment, that show cardiotoxic effects. In many cases, the risk associated with cardiotoxic medication is dose-limiting.
The use of natriuretic peptides as molecular or biochemical markers is known as such. In WO 02/089657, it has been suggested to measure brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to diagnose myocardial infarction. In WO 02/083913 it has been suggested to use BNP to predict near-term morbidity or mortality in patients with congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, ST-elevated myocardial infarction, or non-ST-elevated acute coronary syndromes.
Suzuki et al. have investigated whether anthracyclines can influence the plasma concentration of BNP (Suzuki, T., et al. (1998). Elevated B-type natriuretic peptide levels after anthracycline administration. American Heart Journal, vol. 136(2), p. 362-363.). The study suggests the possible use of BNP levels to assess the cardiac state after anthracycline administration. According to their interpretation, BNP levels most likely reflect cardiac tolerance to the cardiotoxic agent.
Okumura et al. investigated whether BNP can be used as a predictor of cardiotoxicity in patients with acute leukaemia treated with a daunorubicin-containing regimen (Okumura, H., et al. (2000). Brain natriuretic peptide is a predictor of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Acta Haematologica, vol. 104, p. 158-163). The authors conclude that their preliminary results suggest that BNP may be useful as an early and sensitive indicator of anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity.
However, the value of BNP as a diagnostic marker in the context of cardiotoxicity is still subject to debate. A recent review questions whether BNP can be used to monitor drug-related cardiotoxicity (Mohideen, M. R. (2002), Brain natriuretic peptide is more than a marker. Ceylon Medical Journal, vol. 47(3), p. 81-82). Another recent review, published after the review mentioned beforehand, comes to the conclusion that there are "no encouraging data" concerning the early diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction using BNP for diagnosing cardiotoxicity caused by anthracyclines (Tsekoura, D. K., et al. (2003). Brain natriuretic peptide. Hellenic Journal of Cardiology, vol. 44, p. 266-270).
The role of NT-proBNP for diagnosis of cardiotoxicity mediated by anthracyclines has not been subject to investigation.
Furthermore, the prior art relates only to a potential use of BNP for monitoring cardiotoxicity, i.e. cardiotoxicity caused by a drug after treatment has already commenced.
However, it would be preferable if risk patients could be identified even before they receive cardiotoxic medication. It is important to realize that cardiovascular complications can remain asymptomatic for long periods of time. Therefore, reliable diagnosis of the presence of a cardiovascular complication is more difficult and error-prone than generally believed (Svendstrup Nielsen, L., et al. (2003). N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide for discriminating between cardiac and non-cardiac dyspnoea. The European Journal of Heart Failure).
Currently, only patients with a known history of heart disease or hypertension receive closer monitoring in case of a treatment with cardiotoxic medication. In particular, general practitioners and non-cardiologists have no simple means to identify a previously unrecognized cardiovascular problem.
Therefore, there is a need to for a method or means to identify risk patients before they receive cardiotoxic medication. Particularly, there is a need to provide a suitable diagnostic means. Particularly, there is a need for a diagnostic means that allows to identify risk patients that have no history of a cardiovascular complication. In particular, the diagnostic means should be simple, fast, reliable and suited for use by general practitioners and non-cardiologists. Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide such means and methods.

Diagnosing risk of cardiovascular complications using natiuretic peptides


A valve system that includes (i) first and second longitudinally facing members defining a gap therebetween in fluid communication with transversely offset first and second orifices through the members, (ii) a primary biasing means longitudinally biasing the members away from one another, (iii) an elastic element positioned within the gap between the first and second orifices, and (iv) a repositioning means for longitudinally repositioning one of the members towards the other member against the bias of the primary biasing means for adjusting the longitudinal height of the gap. The members can be repositioned between (a) a first position wherein the elastic element does not seal the gap so as to allow fluid flow from the first orifice to the second orifice through the gap, and (b) a second position wherein the elastic element is compressed between the members and seals the gap so as to prevent fluid flow from the first orifice to the second orifice through the gap.

Permeation instruments are used to measure the transmission rate of a target analyte, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide or water vapor, through a film of interest. Typical films subjected to permeation testing are polymeric packaging films such as those constructed from low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), oriented polypropylene (OPP), polyethylene terepthalate (PET), polyvinylidene chrloride (PVTDC), etc. Typically, the film to be tested is positioned within a test chamber to sealing separate the chamber into first and second cells. The first cell (commonly referenced as the sensing cell) is flushed with an inert gas to remove any target analyte from the cell and the second cell (commonly referenced as the analyte cell) filled with a gas containing a known concentration of the target analyte. A sensor for the target analyte detects the presence of target analyte that has migrated into the sensing cell from the analyte cell through the film.
Permeation instruments typically employ a flow-through method or an accumulation method for sensing the presence of target analyte in the sensing cell. Briefly, the flow-through method uses an inert flushing gas to continuously pick up any target analyte that has migrated into the sensing cell and deliver it to a remote sensor. The accumulation method allows target analyte to build up in the sensing cell for an accumulation period, with the sensor either positioned within the sensing cell or the sensing cell flushed with a flushing gas after the accumulation period for delivery of accumulated target analyte to a remote sensor.
Both methods require precision in timing the opening and closing of fluid flows through the instrument, as well as opening and closing access to the analyte sensor. In addition, when sensing cell is sealed to fluid flow during a testing period, such as occurs with the accumulation technique, the instrument is relying solely upon diffusion to move analyte molecules within the sensing cell into sensing contact with the sensor, and the valving system should not seal the sensing cell too far upstream or downstream from the cell as this causes an increase in the effective volume of the sensing cell, thereby reducing the responsiveness and accuracy of the instrument.
Accordingly, a substantial need exists for a valving system for permeation testing instruments capable of reliably and consistently opening and closing the various cells within the instrument to fluid flow with a limited increase in the effective volume of the sensing cell of the instrument.

Valve system for a coulometric analyte sensing instrument


A semiconductor device has a substrate comprising at least one dielectric layer and at least one metal layer on a first surface of the substrate. A die is attached to the first surface of the substrate. A mold compound is used to encapsulate the die and partially encapsulate the first surface of the substrate. The mold compound has a protrusion proximate to the at least one metal layer. A conductive material covers the mold compound, including the protrusion, and contacts the at least one metal layer.

Radio Frequency (RF) shielding is required on certain semiconductor devices in order to minimize Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) radiation from the semiconductor device. RF shielding is further required to prevent RF radiation from external sources from interfering with operation of the semiconductor device.
RF shielding is generally accomplished in one of three ways. A first method is to attach a metal can over the component after the component is attached to the motherboard. However, shield attach on the mother board has several problems. First, shield attach can be costly and a low yielding process. External shields soldered to the motherboard further require additional board space.
An alternative to the shield attached method described above is an embedded RF shield. In an embedded shield, the metal RF shield is directly attached to the semiconductor package substrate by means of solder or a conductive adhesive. The shield may be fully embedded within the mold compound of the finished package or can be exposed after assembly. In either case, the addition of a metal shield as a component attached to the top surface of the substrate is problematic for several reasons. First, the addition of a metal shield as a component attached to the top surface of the substrate requires a significant amount of additional space on the package substrate. Second, it can be difficult to transfer mold in and around the metal shield to fully encapsulate the semiconductor package. Shield attach is also problematic due to flux creep after the shield is attached and delamination and extrusion issues.
The third method is the conventional conformal shield. In this method, all of the components are placed on the substrate and the substrate, or strip, is over-molded using unit molding, or pin gate molding where individual mold caps are defined within the strip such that upward facing, exposed pads in the substrate remain exposed after the mold operation. A conductive material is then applied to the strip such that it covers the units and also makes electrical contact to the upward facing pads. The strip is then singulated into individual units. While this technique eliminates the molding process concerns associated with the aforementioned embedded shield method, it does not eliminate the added substrate size required to form the so-called upward facing, exposed pads. Therefore, all of the existing solutions can be said to require these large contact pads on the top, or upward facing surface of the substrate.
Therefore, a need existed to provide a device and method to overcome the above problem.

Semiconductor device having RF shielding and method therefor


A system and method for fundamental real-time imaging of the non-linear response of tissue perfused with a contrast agent are disclosed. An image with increased sensitivity to non-linear responses can be achieved by detecting the ultrasound response at the fundamental frequency from tissue perfused with a contrast agent and excited by multiple excitation levels. The responses detected from the multiple excitation levels may be gain corrected in an amount corresponding to the difference in magnitude of the excitation levels, then mathematically combined. The mathematical manipulation serves to remove linear responses to the fumdamental excitation from the detected image. An ultrasonic contrast agent and tissue imaging system can be implemented with a transducer, first and second transmitters, a receiver, a control system, a processing system and a display. The transmitters generate electrical signals that are translated by the transducer into first and second pressure waves respectively, the respective pressure waves being of different power magnitudes. A control system electrically coupled to the transmitters, the transducer, and a receiver, coordinates pressure wave transmissions and the reception of ultrasonic responses. A processing system removes linear responses leaving the non-linear responses from the contrast agent and the surrounding tissue. Lastly, a display configured to receive the non-linear response creates an image of the insonified contrast agent and surrounding tissue.

The present disclosure relates to ultrasonic imaging. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for fundamental imaging of the non-linear response of tissue perfused with a contrast agent.
Ultrasonic imaging has quickly replaced conventional X-rays in many clinical applications because of image quality, safety, and low cost. Ultrasonic images are typically formed through the use of phased or linear array transducers which are capable of transmitting and receiving pressure waves directed into a medium, such as the human body. Such transducers normally comprise multielement piezoelectric materials, which vibrate in response to an applied voltage to produce the desired pressure waves.
To obtain high quality images, the transducer is constructed so as to produce specified frequencies of pressure waves. Generally speaking, low frequency pressure waves provide deep penetration into the medium (e.g., the body), but produce poor resolution images due to the length of the transmitted wavelengths. On the other hand, high frequency pressure waves provide high resolution, but with poor penetration. Accordingly, the selection of a transmitting frequency has involved balancing resolution and penetration concerns. Unfortunately, resolution has suffered at the expense of deeper penetration and vice versa. Traditionally, the frequency selection problem has been addressed by selecting the highest imaging frequency (i.e., best resolution) which offers adequate penetration for a given application. For example, in adult cardiac imaging, frequencies in the 2 MHz to 3 MHz range are typically selected in order to penetrate the chest wall. Lower frequencies have not been used due to the lack of sufficient image resolution. Higher frequencies are often used for radiology and vascular applications where fine resolution is required to image small lesions and arteries affected by stenotic obstructions.
Recently, new methods have been studied in an effort to obtain both high resolution and deep penetration. One such method is known as xe2x80x9charmonic imaging.xe2x80x9d Harmonic imaging is grounded on the phenomenon that objects, such as human tissues, develop and return their own non-fundamental frequencies, i.e., harmonics of the fundamental frequency. This phenomenon and increased image processing capabilities of digital technology, make it is possible to excite an object to be imaged by transmitting at a low (and therefore deeply penetrating) fundamental frequency (f0) and receiving reflections at a higher frequency harmonic (e.g., 2f0) to form a high resolution image of an object. By way of example, a wave having a frequency less than 2 MHz can be transmitted into the human body and one or more harmonic waves having frequencies greater than 3 MHz can be received to form the image. By imaging in this manner, deep penetration can be achieved without a concomitant loss of image resolution.
Harmonic imaging can be particularly effective when used in conjunction with contrast agents. In contrast agent imaging, gas or fluid filled micro-sphere contrast agents are typically injected into a medium, normally the bloodstream. Because of their strong non-linear response characteristics when insonified at particular frequencies, contrast agent resonation can be easily detected by an ultrasound transducer. More specifically, a second harmonic response occurs when a contrast agent under ultrasonic pressure xe2x80x9cmapsxe2x80x9d energy into the harmonics of the incident pressure waves, instead of the fundamental. Various non-linear detection schemes take advantage of the fact that contrast agents produce non-linear responses of a greater magnitude than the surrounding tissue. By using harmonic imaging after introducing contrast agents, medical personnel can enhance imaging capability for diagnosing the health of blood-filled tissues and blood flow dynamics within a patient""s arterial system. For example, contrast agent harmonic imaging is especially effective in detecting myocardial boundaries, assessing microvascular blood flow, and detecting myocardial perfusion. Transducers have been designed for transmit frequencies in the range of 2 MHz to 3 MHz for sufficient resolution of cardiac valves, endocardial borders and other cardiac structures.
The power or mechanical index of the impinging ultrasound signal directly affects the contrast agent acoustical response. At lower powers, microbubbles resonate and emit harmonics of the transmitted frequency. The magnitude of these microbubble harmonics depends on the magnitude of the excitation signal pulse. At higher acoustical powers, microbubbles rupture and emit strong broadband signals.
A prior art diagnostic system, disclosed by Johnson et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,257, teaches improved imaging by introducing coated microbubble contrast agents in the body of a patient. The ""257 patent further teaches destroying the contrast agents with ultrasonic energy and detecting the microbubble destruction through phase insensitive detection and differentiation of echoes received from consecutive ultrasonic transmissions.
The present invention relates to a system and method for real-time imaging of tissue perfused with a contrast agent. An image with increased sensitivity to non-linear responses, can be achieved by detecting the ultrasound response at the fundamental frequency from tissue perfused with a contrast agent and excited by multiple excitation levels. Briefly described, in architecture, an ultrasonic contrast agent and tissue imaging system can be implemented with a transducer, first and second transmitters, a receiver, a control system, a processing system and a display. The ultrasonic contrast agent and tissue imaging system may be configured such that the first and second transmitters generate first and second electrical signals that are translated by the transducer into first and second pressure waves respectively, the respective pressure waves being of different magnitudes. A control system electrically coupled to the first and second transmitters, the transducer, and a receiver coordinates pressure wave transmissions and the reception of ultrasonic responses from the insonified contrast agent and tissue. A processing system electrically coupled to the receiver processes the multiple responses in a manner such that linear responses are removed leaving the non-linear responses from the contrast agent and the surrounding tissue. Lastly, a display configured to receive the non-linear response creates an image of the insonified contrast agent and surrounding tissue.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing one or more methods for non-linear ultrasonic response signal detection. In this regard, one such method can be broadly summarized by the following steps: introducing a contrast agent into the tissue targeted for imaging; insonifying the tissue at a first intensity to generate a first response; insonifying the tissue at a second intensity, wherein the second intensity is different from the first, to generate a second response; separately measuring the first and second responses at the fundamental frequency; generating a projected response from the first response; and mathematically manipulating the projected response and the second response to derive the non-linear response.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

System and method for non-linear detection of ultrasonic contrast agents at a fundamental frequency


A process fluid pressure measurement system includes a process fluid pressure transmitter coupled to a coplanar manifold. The coplanar manifold includes a first bore coupleable to a source of process fluid, and a vent passageway connected to the first bore and terminating in a vent hole. The coplanar manifold includes at least one port configured to receive a valve stem. Directly engaging the valve stem with the coplanar manifold selectively vents the coplanar manifold. Aspects of the present invention also include a coplanar manifold for coupling fluid to a process fluid pressure transmitter, and a method of venting such a coplanar manifold.

The term "process variable" generally refers to a physical or chemical state of matter or conversion of energy. Examples of process variables include pressure, temperature, flow, conductivity, pH, and other properties. The term "process measurement" refers to the acquisition of information that establishes the magnitude of process quantities. Pressure is considered a basic process variable in that it is used for the measurement of flow (the difference of two pressures), level (head or back pressure), and even temperature (fluid pressure in a thermal system).
An industrial process transmitter generally includes a transducer or sensor that responds to a measured variable with a sensing element that converts the variable to a standardized transmission signal, e.g., an electrical or optical signal where air pressure, that is a function of the measured value. Industrial process pressure transmitters are used to measure pressure within industrial processes such as slurries, liquids, vapors and gasses in chemical, pulp, petroleum, gas, pharmaceutical, food, and other fluid processing plants. Industrial process fluid transmitters are often placed near the process fluids, or in field applications. Often, these field applications are subject to harsh and varying environmental conditions that provide challenges for designers of such transmitters.
Process fluid pressure transmitters are generally coupled to the process by virtue of a manifold. The manifold routes the process fluid from one or more process fluid inlets to one or more process fluid outputs, which process fluid outputs are arranged, or otherwise configured in a standardized manner to match, or otherwise cooperate with, the location of process fluid inputs on pressure sensor modules of process pressure transmitters.
One particular type of manifold is known as a coplanar style manifold. Such manifolds are available from Rosemount, Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn. under the trade designation Model 305 and Model 306 manifolds. Each of the models 305 and 306 manifolds can be ordered in a variety of configurations. Generally, a manifold will have at least one valve that provides pressure transmitter isolation. This isolation can allow the process pressure transmitter to be removed and repaired and/or replaced while the valve maintains isolation from the process. Coplanar manifolds can also be provided with two, three and five valve configurations. All such coplanar manifolds generally provide a plug for drain/vent capabilities. Coplanar manifolds can allow a number of process fluid pressures to be coupled to a process fluid pressure transmitter through a single, unitary manifold. Such a configuration can reduce installation costs and technician time, as well as provide an extremely robust process fluid connection.
Any interface between two surfaces which contacts process fluid, and extends to an outer surface that is in contact with the ambient environment may create a source of process fluid leaks. In order to remedy process fluid leaks, a field technician or other skilled worker may be required to diagnose and repair the problem. Providing a process pressure transmitter manifold that is less susceptible to leaks would benefit the process measurement and control industry.

Process pressure measurement system with improved venting


A nozzle plate component manufactured by forming a layer of photoresist on a substrate and selectively exposing and removing material to define an array of distinct bodies. Nickel is then electroformed around the bodies to form a plate, with nozzles subsequently formed by ablation through the photoresist. The process can essentially be repeated to form a guard structure around each nozzle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a component for a droplet deposition apparatus and more particularly a nozzle plate for a droplet deposition apparatus. A n ink jet printer is a particularly important example of droplet deposition apparatus.
2. Brief Description of the Related Technology
A nozzle plate is typically attached to a body of a droplet deposition apparatus having a plurality of ink ejection chambers to provide each chamber with a respective droplet ejection nozzle. Due to the accuracy with which ejection nozzles must be formed in the nozzle plate, for example to ensure uniformity of the size and velocity of droplets ejected from the ejection chambers, laser ablation is commonly used to form the nozzles in the nozzle plate. Plastics material such as polyimide, polysulphone or other such laser-ablatable plastics material is commonly used to form the nozzle plate, and after the application of an ink-repellant layer to one face of the nozzle plate, each nozzle is formed by exposing the plate to a laser beam, such as an excimer laser beam, of appropriate diameter. The nozzle plate, complete with nozzles, is then bonded to the body of the apparatus with each nozzle aligned with a respective chamber formed in the body.
The use of plastics material for the nozzle plate tends to make the nozzle plate relatively weak, and thus prone to mechanical damage. While stiffer materials, such as metallic or ceramics material, may be used for the nozzle plate, accurate nozzles are less readily formed in the nozzle plate.
It has been proposed in the prior art, e.g. from WO 02/098666, that nozzle plates may be formed from a metal plate containing an aperture into which a polymer material is injected. A nozzle is subsequently formed through the polymeric material.

Method of manufacturing a component for droplet deposition apparatus


A flexible printed circuit includes a first insulating substrate layer and a first electrically conductive layer located adjacent to a first side of the insulating substrate layer. The first conductive layer has a first portion that is substantially solid and a second portion having a multiplicity of voids in the first conductive layer in a pattern for providing a lower stiffness in the second portion relative to the first portion, thereby providing more flexibility in the second portion relative to the first portion.

This disclosure relates to a flexible printed circuit which is a lamination of layers of a flexible plastic substrate and electrically conductive circuits (traces). The lamination may also include one or more shielding layers to resist electromagnetic radiation from traveling between the traces and an environment external to the flexible printed circuit. This technology allows flexible printed circuits to more easily conform to a desired shape (or to flex), reduce a product's size, and supply consistent circuit routing.


The resin composition for a skin member according to the present invention comprises a completely or partially crosslinked olefin thermoplastic elastomer (A) in an amount of 100 parts by weight, an organopolysiloxane (B) having a viscosity (JIS K2283, 25xc2x0 C.) of not less than 1xc3x97106 cSt, preferably 1xc3x97106 to 1xc3x97108 cSt in an amount of 2 to 20 parts by weight, an organopolysiloxane (C) having a viscosity (JIS K2283, 25xc2x0 C.) of not less than 10 cSt and less than 1xc3x97106 cSt in an amount of 0.5 to 5 parts by weight, and optionally, a polyolefin resin (D) in an amount of 5 to 150 parts by weight and/or a fluoropolymer (E) in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by weight. The other resin composition for a skin member according to the invention comprises a completely or partially crosslinked olefin thermoplastic elastomer (A) in an amount of 100 parts by weight, a fluoropolymer (E) in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, and optionally, a polyolefin resin (D) in an amount of 5 to 150 parts by weight. The laminate according to the invention is formed by laminating a skin member comprising any of the above compositions to a core comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. According to the invention, a resin composition for a skin member, which is capable of producing a laminate exhibiting good sliding properties for a window glass and excellent abrasion resistance and having only a slight amount of a die residue brought about in the extrusion molding, and a laminate using the resin composition can be obtained.

The present invention relates to olefin thermoplastic elastomer compositions for skin members and laminates thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to olefin thermoplastic elastomer compositions for skin members having excellent slide abrasion resistance and extrusion moldability, and also relates to laminates thereof.
Olefin thermoplastic elastomers are lightweight, can be easily recycled and generate no noxious gas when they are incinerated, so that they have been intensively used for various materials such as automobile parts, industrial mechanical parts, electronic or electric parts and building materials from the viewpoints of conservation of energy, conservation of resources, and recently, global environmental protection.
An example of the automobile part is a glass run channel. The glass run channel is a guide member provided between a window glass and a window frame, and is required to not only facilitate opening and closing operations of the window glass but also enable the window glass to be shut tightly (fluid-tightly) on the window frame.
Conventional glass run channels comprise a substrate made of a soft synthetic resin (e.g., soft vinyl chloride resin), an ethylene/propylene/diene copolymer rubber or the like and a nylon film for sliding a window glass, said nylon film being laminated to the substrate with an adhesive. In order to decrease the contact area with the window glass, embossing is performed before or after lamination of the nylon film.
Since the process for producing such conventional glass run channels includes a laminating step using an adhesive, the resulting glass run channels have a drawback in that separation between the substrate and the skin layer is liable to occur, and the process is complicated because of many steps.
Under such circumstances, the present inventors have paid attention to the olefin thermoplastic elastomers and tried to solve the problems of the glass run channels. In the use of the olefin thermoplastic elastomer for a single-layer glass run channel, however, the sliding properties for the window glass become bad to cause violent abrasion. Besides, the amount of a die residue brought about in the extrusion molding process is larger than the case of using ordinary resins, and the die residue adheres to the molded article, resulting in bad appearance.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 176408/1997, it is described that addition of a fatty acid amide to an olefin thermoplastic elastomer enhances sliding properties and abrasion resistance. Even in the use of the thus obtained olefin thermoplastic elastomer composition, however, a problem of occurrence of a die residue in the extrusion molding still remains.
The present invention is intended to solve such problems associated with the prior art as described above, and it is an object of the invention to provide a resin composition for a skin member, which comprises an olefin thermoplastic elastomer and other specific components and which is capable of providing a laminate when it is used for a skin member, said laminate exhibiting good sliding properties for a window glass and excellent abrasion resistance and having only a slight amount of a die residue brought about in the extrusion molding. It is another object of the invention to provide a laminate using the resin composition.
The first resin composition for a skin member according to the present invention comprises a completely or partially crosslinked olefin thermoplastic elastomer (A) in an amount of 100 parts by weight, an organopolysiloxane (B) having a viscosity (JIS K2283, 25xc2x0 C.) of not less than 1xc3x97106 cSt; preferably 1xc3x97106 to 1xc3x97108 cSt in an amount of 2 to 20 parts by weight and an organopolysiloxane (C) having a viscosity (JIS K2283, 25xc2x0 C.) of not less than 10 cSt and less than 1xc3x97106 cSt in an amount of 0.5 to 5 parts by weight. In this composition, a polyolefin resin (D) in an amount of 5 to 150 parts by weight and/or a fluoropolymer (E) in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by weight may be contained.
The second resin composition for a skin member according to the present invention comprises a completely or partially crosslinked olefin thermoplastic elastomer (A) in an amount of 100 parts by weight and a fluoropolymer (E) in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by weight. In this composition, a polyolefin resin (D) may be contained in an amount of 5 to 150 parts by weight.
The fluoropolymer (E) is preferably a hot-melt fluoropolymer, particularly preferably a vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene copolymer or a tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer.
The laminate according to the present invention is a laminate formed by laminating a skin member comprising the first or the second resin composition to a core comprising a thermoplastic elastomer.
The above-mentioned compositions are excellent in sliding properties for glasses and abrasion resistance and bring about only a slight amount of a die residue in the extrusion molding process. The term xe2x80x9cdie residuexe2x80x9d used herein means a substance which is different in color or physical properties from the starting material adhered to a die in the extrusion molding of a thermoplastic elastomer. This die residue includes a yellow viscous substance, black fine particles and the like, and is considered to be a deterioration product of the starting polymer. The mechanism of occurrence of the die residue has not been clarified.

Resin compositions for skin members and laminates thereof

c/o Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., 3, Chigusa-Kaigan


When a reader of a Radio Frequency Identification (RF-ID) system sends out a command signal to the RF-ID tag and receives a response signal from the RF-ID tag, an End of Signal (EOS) of the received response signal is detected such that the next command signal can be transmitted within a time. Accordingly, response signal can be detected even under the environment of poor signal to noise ratio performance, and the EOS of the response signal from the RF-ID tag can be recognized with ease and speed.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to detecting an end of response signal of a Radio Frequency Identification (RF-ID) tag, and more particularly, to detecting an end of response signal of an RF-ID tag, with which a reader of an RF-ID system, which sends out a command signal to the RF-ID tag, can detect an end of signal (EOS) of a response and therefore send out a next command signal in a predetermined time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Within a distance of about 1 m, a related art RF-ID technology enables wireless receiving and reading of the stored information of an RF-ID tag though a reader thereof, without requiring any physical contact.
An RF-ID tag is usually attached to a product in the form of a chip and operates as a transponder. Thus, the RF-ID tag provides information about the product from its production to purchase.
A reader usually operates as a transceiver, which wirelessly transmits and receives signals with RF-ID tag through an antenna, and thus, receives and reads the information received from the RF-ID tag.
FIG. 1 shows a command signal sent from a related art reader and a response signal received from an RF-ID tag. The related art reader sends out a command signal 110 with a continuous wave CW to an RF-ID tag, and the RF-ID tag responds with a response signal 120, using a backscattering technique, when the condition suits the received command signal.
According to the related art standards, the backscattered response signal has a fixed length and is received from the RF-ID tag within a certain fixed time after the transmission of the command signal from the reader.
However, when a related art RF-ID system supporting EPCGlabal Class-1 Generation 2 sends out command signals, it receives backscattered response signals within different times according to respective lengths of the RF-ID tags. The reader has to send out command signal to the RF-ID tag within a certain fixed time.
Accordingly, a reader has to know the end of the response signal having a shortest time to calculate the start of transmission of the next command signal.
If the response signals received from the RF-IF tag have different bit length, the End Of Signal (EOS) of the received response signals cannot be known within a short time. Further, if the EOS of the response signals is not known within a predetermined fixed time, the RF-ID tag will turn to reset status, and the reader, which fails to find out the EOS of the response signal within the time limit, takes it as a reception failure and thus repeats communication with the RF-ID tag.

Method and apparatus for detecting end of response signal on radio frequency identification tag


This invention relates to potent selective agonists of the EP4 subtype of prostaglandin E2 receptors, their use or a formulation thereof in the treatment of glaucoma and other conditions which are related to elevated intraocular pressure in the eye of a patient. This invention further relates to the use of the compounds of this invention for mediating the bone modeling and remodeling processes of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Glaucoma is a degenerative disease of the eye wherein the intraocular pressure is too high to permit normal eye function. As a result, damage may occur to the optic nerve head and result in irreversible loss of visual function. If untreated, glaucoma may eventually lead to blindness. Ocular hypertension, i.e., the condition of elevated intraocular pressure without optic nerve head damage or characteristic glaucomatous visual field defects, is now believed by the majority of ophthalmologists to represent merely the earliest phase in the onset of glaucoma.
Many of the drugs formerly used to treat glaucoma proved unsatisfactory. Early methods of treating glaucoma employed pilocarpine and produced undesirable local effects that made this drug, though valuable, unsatisfactory as a first line drug. More recently, clinicians have noted that many β-adrenergic antagonists are effective in reducing intraocular pressure. While many of these agents are effective for this purpose, there exist some patients with whom this treatment is not effective or not sufficiently effective. Many of these agents also have other characteristics, e.g., membrane stabilizing activity, that become more apparent with increased doses and render them unacceptable for chronic ocular use and can also cause cardiovascular effects.
Agents referred to as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors decrease the formation of aqueous humor by inhibiting the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. While such carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are now used to treat elevated intraocular pressure by systemic and topical routes, current therapies using these agents, particularly those using systemic routes are still not without undesirable effects. Topically effective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,386,098; 4,416,890; 4,426,388; 4,668,697; 4,863,922; 4,797,413; 5,378,703, 5,240,923 and 5,153,192.
Prostaglandins and prostaglandin derivatives are also known to lower intraocular pressure. There are several prostaglandin types, including the A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I and J-Series (EP 0561073 A1). U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,819 to Bito describes the use and synthesis of PGAs, PGBs and PGCs in reducing intraocular pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,857 to Goh et al. describes the use and synthesis of PGD2 and derivatives thereof in lowering intraocular pressure including derivatives wherein C-10 is replaced with nitrogen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,153 to Ueno et al. describes the use and synthesis of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandins and prostaglandin derivatives to lower intraocular pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,353 describes the use of eicosanoids and eicosanoid derivatives including prostaglandins and prostaglandin inhibitors in lowering intraocular pressure. See also WO 00/38667, WO 99/32441, WO 99/02165, WO 00/38663, WO 01/46140, EP 0855389, JP 2000-1472, U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,275 and WO 00/38690.
Prostaglandin and prostaglandin derivatives are known to lower intraocular pressure by increasing uveoscleral outflow. This is true for both the F type and A type of prostaglandins. This invention is particularly interested in those compounds that lower IOP via the uveoscleral outflow pathway and other mechanisms by which the E series prostaglandins (PGE2) may facilitate IOP reduction. The four recognized subtypes of the EP receptor are believed to modulate the effect of lowering IOP (EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4; J. Lipid Mediators Cell Signaling, Vol. 14, pages 83–87 (1996)). See also J. Ocular Pharmacology, Vol. 4, 1, pages 13–18 (1988); J. Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 11, 3, pages 447–454 (1995); J. Lipid Mediators, Vol. 6, pages 545–553 (1993); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,598 and 5,462,968 and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 31, 12, pages 2560–2567 (1990). Of particular interest to this invention are compounds, which are agonist of the EP4 subtype receptor.
A problem with using prostaglandins or derivatives thereof to lower intraocular pressure is that these compounds often induce an initial increase in intraocular pressure, can change the color of eye pigmentation and cause proliferation of some tissues surrounding the eye.
As can be seen, there are several current therapies for treating glaucoma and elevated intraocular pressure, but the efficacy and the side effect profiles of these agents are not ideal. Therefore, there still exist the need for new and effective therapies with little or no side effects.
A variety of disorders in humans and other mammals involve or are associated with abnormal or excessive bone loss. Such disorders include, but are not limited to, osteoporosis, glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis, Paget's disease, abnormally increased bone turnover, periodontal disease, tooth loss, bone fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, periprosthetic osteolysis, osteogenesis imperfecta, metastatic bone disease, hypercalcemia of malignancy, and multiple myeloma. One of the most common of these disorders is osteoporosis, which in its most frequent manifestation occurs in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by a low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. Osteoporotic fractures are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. As many as 50% of women and a third of men will experience an osteoporotic fracture. A large segment of the older population already has low bone density and a high risk of fractures. There is a significant need to both prevent and treat osteoporosis and other conditions associated with bone resorption. Because osteoporosis, as well as other disorders associated with bone loss, are generally chronic conditions, it is believed that appropriate therapy will typically require chronic treatment.
Two different types of cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts are involved in the bone formation and resorption processes, respectively. See H. Fleisch, Bisphosphonates In Bone Disease, From The Laboratory To The Patient, 3rd Edition, Parthenon Publishing (1997), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Osteoblasts are cells that are located on the bone surface. These cells secrete an osseous organic matrix, which then calcifies. Substances such as fluoride, parathyroid hormone, and certain cytokines such as protaglandins are known to provide a stimulatory effect on osetoblast cells. However, an aim of current research is to develop therapeutic agents that will selectively increase or stimulate the bone formation activity of the osteoblasts.
Osteoclasts are usually large multinucleated cells that are situated either on the surface of the cortical or trabecular bone or within the cortical bone. The osteoclasts resorb bone in a closed, sealed-off microenvironment located between the cell and the bone. The recruitment and activity of osteoclasts is known to be influenced by a series of cytokines and hormones. It is well known that bisphosphonates are selective inhibitors of osteoclastic bone resorption, making these compounds important therapeutic agents in the treatment or prevention of a variety of systemic or localized bone disorders caused by or associated with abnormal bone resorption. However, despite the utility of bisphosphonates there remains the desire amongst researchers to develop additional therapeutic agents for inhibiting the bone resorption activity of osteoclasts.
Prostaglandins such as the PGE2 series are known to stimulate bone formation and increase bone mass in mammals, including man. It is believed that the four different receptor subtypes, designated EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 are involved in mediating the bone modeling and remodeling processes of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The major prostaglandin receptor in bone is EP4, which is believed to provide its effect by signaling via cyclic AMP.
In present invention it is further found that the formula I agonists of the EP4 subtype receptor are useful for stimulating bone formation.
WO 02/24647, WO 02/42268, EP 1132086, EP 855389, EP 1114816, WO 01/46140 and WO 01/72268 disclose EP4 agonists.

Oxazolidin-2-one and thiazolidin-2-one derivatives for use as EP


A moisture-reactive hot-melt adhesive composition is provided. Particularly, a composition that includes a polyisocyanate and at least two polyols, one of which is a fatty polyol. Also provided is a method for bonding substrates using the adhesive.

This invention relates to urethane polymer compositions, particularly moisture-reactive hot-melt urethane polymer compositions useful as adhesives and to a method for bonding substrates with such compositions.
The use of castor oil as a component in urethane polymer compositions is known in the art, as described in Polyurethane Handbook, 2nd edition, edited by G. Oertel, Hanser Publishers, 1993. Castor oil is thought to provide crosslinking to the composition. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/843706 discloses moisture-reactive hot-melt adhesives that incorporate castor oil into a polyurethane prepolymer-forming reaction mixture containing polyol and polyisocyanate. These adhesives achieve good properties, but alternatives to castor oil are desired in order to adjust the formulation to achieve specific balance of properties.
UK Patent 2278350 discloses the use of a hydroxylated diglyceride or triglyceride of one or more long-chain ethylenically unsaturated fatty acids as the sole polyol in a cured urethane polymer composition. U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,112 discloses a polyol mixture having polyhydroxyl ricinoleate compound and C2–C6 hydrocarbon polymer having at least one hydroxyl group.
The problem faced by the inventor is the provision of alternatives to unmodified castor oil as one of plural polyols in a moisture-reactive hot-melt adhesive composition. In addition, it is desirable to find useful polyols other than unmodified castor oil that are derived from renewable and/or natural sources. Surprisingly, the inventor found that incorporation of various hydroxyl-functional fatty compounds other than unmodified castor oil in urethane compositions yielded moisture-reactive adhesives with useful properties.


The system includes a sensor for each junction box in the building to be guarded, e.g., the residence, and a display panel showing the temperature of any junction box that is heated above the danger point. Another display panel shows the name of the resident and address of the residence, and the location of the heated junction box by room number and junction box number and the shape of the junction box. A plurality of residences are connected with a central station, such as a fire station, by a single telephone line to each residence. A single processing unit is located in each residence, and a single such unit is located in the central display station. A display panel is located in the central station identical with each display in a residence. The central station is provided with a single processing unit responsive to actuating of any and each of the processing units in the residences, the central station having a modem operable for receiving signals from the processing units in the units and processing them according to the respective processing units in the residences. The system also includes rotating extinguisher heads which rotate towards the source of any dangerous heat an extinguish the fire.

It is well known that many fires are caused by failures in electrical wiring. Frequently, faulty wiring will generate heat long before the ignition temperature of the surrounding structure is reached. Circuit breakers do not prevent a fire in this situation because the current flowing through the fault is not great enough to trip a standard breaker.
Furthermore, conventional fire detection systems are also inadequate because they only detect the byproducts of combustion, such as smoke and intense heat. The localized heat rise in failing wiring typically goes undetected until after a fire has started.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a system capable of detecting heat rises due to faulty wiring before a fire actually breaks out. The system described herein accomplishes this result by detecting such heat increases, pinpointing the locations, providing an alarm, and providing means to extinguish any fire that does occur.

Alarm system for detecting excess temperature in electrical wiring


A window panel for a display apparatus is provided comprising a first reinforced layer formed at a first predetermined depth from entire upper and lower surfaces, a second reinforced layer formed at a second predetermined depth from a side surface connecting an edge of the upper surface and an edge of the lower surface, and a non-reinforced portion formed at least a portion of the side surface.

Field
The embodiments of this document are directed to a window panel for a display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the window panel, and a window panel integrated type touch screen and a method of manufacturing the touch screen.
Related Art
Display apparatuses, such as liquid crystal displays, field emission displays (FEDs), electroluminescent displays, and plasma display panel displays, attract attention due to high response speed, low power consumption, and high color reproduction ratio. Such display apparatuses are used for various electronics including TVs, computer monitors, laptop computers, mobile phones, displays for refrigerators, personal digital assistants, automated teller machines. In general, these display apparatuses constitute an interface with users using various input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, digitizers, or more. However, the keyboard or mouse is disadvantageous in that a user needs to learn how to use and it occupies a space. In response to increased demand for simple and less malfunctioned input devices, touch screen panels have been suggested that allow a user to directly input information with his/her hand or pen.
Because the touch screen panel has a simple configuration, which minimizes erroneous operations, the user can perform an input action without using a separate input device, and can quickly and easily manipulate through contents displayed on a screen. Accordingly, the touch screen panel has been applied to various display devices. Such touch screen panels are weak in scratches or bending when information is input on the touch screen panel using fingers or pen, and thus require a window panel to be attached thereon in order to prevent the touch screen panels from being scratched and bended. However, adding the window panel leads to an increase in thickness of the entire touch screen panel.
Accordingly, there have been suggested methods of fabricating a touch screen panel by reinforcing a window panel and then forming touch electrodes on a surface of the window panel. This method eliminates the need of a separate substrate for the touch screen panel, thus resulting in a decrease in thickness of the touch screen panel.
Such fabricating methods include a cell unit window panel fabricating method and a sheet unit window panel fabricating method. In the cell unit window panel fabricating method, a whole sheet glass substrate is cut into a plurality of cells and the cells are separately subjected to a reinforcing treatment. In the sheet unit window panel fabricating method, a whole sheet glass substrate is firstly reinforced and then cut into a plurality of cells.
However, the "first-cut-and-next-reinforcement" characteristics of the cell unit window panel fabricating method cause it difficult to guarantee mass productivity. Moreover, the cell unit window panel fabricating method generally needs to use a jig when forming touch electrodes on the cut cell unit unit window panels, which renders work hard due to x, y, and z-axis tolerances between each cell unit unit window panel and a seating portion of the jig on which the cell unit unit window panel is rested or a deviation of each cell unit unit window panel, thus resulting in a lowering of throughput.
In contrast, the sheet unit window panel fabricating method subjects a whole sheet glass substrate to a reinforcing treatment, so that time required for reinforcing treatment can be saved. Further, it is not necessary to form touch electrodes on the cell unit window panels one by one, which can increase fabrication throughput.
In the conventional sheet unit window panel fabricating method, however, when the reinforced whole sheet glass substrate is cut into a plurality of cells, loss of reinforced layers occurs at the cutoff surfaces together with tiny cracks as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a photomicrography taking a picture of a cutoff surface of a reinforced whole sheet substrate, wherein tiny cracks are created at the cutoff surface.
As a consequence, the conventional sheet unit window panel fabricating method requires a polishing process for polishing the cutoff surface using a polishing machine to remove the cracks from the cutoff surface. Further, since the cutoff surface remains with the reinforced layers lost, the cutoff surface needs to be reinforced once more to maintain durability. As such, the conventional sheet unit substrate window panel fabricating method requires additional polishing and reinforcing processes.

Window panel and method of fabricating of the same, window panel integrated type touch screen panel and method of fabricating of the same


Provided are methods for manufacturing silicon rich oxide (SRO) layers useful in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, for example, non-volatile memory devices, and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices incorporating such SRO layers. The methods include absorbing a first silicon source gas onto the substrate, oxidizing the first absorbed layer to form a silicon oxide layer, absorbing a second silicon source gas onto the substrate and reducing the second absorbed layer to form a silicon layer. The combination of the silicon oxide layer(s) and the silicon layer(s) comprise, in turn, a composite SRO layer. These manufacturing methods facilitate control of the oxygen concentration in the SRO, the relative thicknesses of the silicon oxide and silicon layers, and provides improved step coverage, thus allowing the manufacturing of high quality semiconductor devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods for manufacturing silicon rich oxide (SRO), and more particularly, to methods for manufacturing semiconductor devices incorporating one or more regions of SRO.
2. Description of the Related Art
Charge storage devices incorporating SRO have been receiving increasing attention as a result of various advantages provided by the SRO when utilized as a charge trapping layer. Controlling the ratio of Si and SiO2 in the SRO material incorporated in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices can provide improved electrical characteristics relative to conventional DRAM devices. In particular, annealing a SRO having an appropriate atomic ratio of silicon and oxygen atoms (Si:O ratio) at a sufficiently high temperature will tend to cause segregation of Si and SiO2 within the SRO layer. Accordingly, annealing such SRO materials in this manner can form Si dots that are distinct from the SiO2. A memory device incorporating Si nanocrystals generated using such a Si dot formation technique is discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,059, the contents of which are incorporated herein, in its entirety and to the extent consistent with the present disclosure, by reference.
In general, SRO materials can be formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes. CVD processes, however, while generally providing better control over the Si:O ratio than ALD processes, tend to exhibit poor step coverage due to plasma shielding effect. Conversely, ALD processes, while generally providing better step coverage than CVD processes, tend to exhibit poor control over the Si:O ratio within the SRO layer due to the nature of the exchange reaction between a precursor, for example, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS, (Si(OC2H5)4, also referred to in the alternative as tetraethosiloxane or tetraethylorthosilicate), and an oxidation agent, for example, H2O.

Method of manufacturing silicon rich oxide (SRO) and semiconductor device employing SRO


A multiple terminal selector switch for use with millimeter-wave signals has a layout of components enabling the switch to be constructed on a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) chip while maintaining adequately low cross talk among ports of the switch to retain isolation among its ports. The circuitry includes a transmission line having multiple taps spaced apart by an integral number of half wavelengths of the signal, wherein the taps connect to separate ports via arms of the circuit. Each arm has an electronically switchable element for producing open or short circuits for connection and disconnection of a switch port from the transmission line. One primary tap of the transmission line is unswitched and connects with a further port from which, or to which, signals of the other ports are selectively switched. A driver circuit for control of the switching elements in the respective arms is disposed within a central region of the switching circuit, while the transmission line encircles at least a portion of the driver circuit.

This invention relates to the switching of electromagnetic signals of millimeter wavelength and, more particularly, to the construction of a switch of multiple switching arms extending from a multiply-tapped transmission line configured to encircle a driver of the switching arms, thereby providing a switch architecture suitable for construction in a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) chip.
Electronic signal processing, such as may be found in radar and in communication systems, may include a switching of signals from one terminal selectively to any one of a multiplicity of terminals. Such switching has been accomplished by mechanical stepping switches and by electronic switching circuits, both of which are physically large as compared to circuit component parts found in MMIC. Of particular interest herein is the capacity to switch millimeter-wave signals by use of circuitry compatible in physical size with an MMIC chip.
A problem arises in that circuitry employed for lower frequency signals is generally too large to fit within the confines of an MMIC chip. Attempts to produce selective, or N-way, switches with multiple output ports, or input ports, has resulted in geometry wherein connecting lines from a common node to the ports (a star configuration) are so close together, in the vicinity of the common node, as to introduce excessive parasitic capacitance which impairs signal transmission, as well as reducing isolation among respective ones of the ports which have been switched off. Attempts to reduce cross talk by cascading several switches, wherein one two-way switch feeds two further two-way switches, results in a circuit layout which is excessively large for MMIC chips, particularly upon inclusion of a suitable driver for the switches.