A composite film comprised of three layers is formed by ALD on a substrate with a substrate interface surface. A first layer is coupled to the substrate interface surface. The first layer provides adhesion to the substrate interface surface and initiation of layer by layer ALD growth. A second layer is positioned between the first and third layers and provides a conducting diffusion barrier between the substrate and subsequent overlaying film. A third layer has a surface that is configured to provide adhesion and a texture template in preparation for a subsequent overlaying film. The composite engineered barrier structures are applied to interconnect, capacitor and transistor applications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to engineering of conductive films, and more specifically to methods of engineering of composite thin conductive films by atomic layer deposition technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thin conductive films are used in the fabrication of integrated circuits to route signals through and between many of the device elements of an integrated circuit, including interconnect lines, capacitor and gate electrodes, and contacts to the source and drain transistor regions. Traditionally, interconnect lines are fabricated from aluminum and are embedded in SiO2 dielectric insulation. In recent years leading microelectronics manufacturers have begun the implementation of copper (Cu) and low dielectric constant (low-K) materials to enable improvement in device performance by lowering the signal propagation time delay. An important aspect of copper metallization is the need for a diffusion barrier to completely encapsulate the Cu interconnect lines in order to prevent Cu diffusion into the low-k material, which can degrade performance and yield. The barrier material and deposition method need to be carefully designed to avoid compromising the resistivity and reliability of the interconnect system. For example, the effective copper conductance across the interconnect line can be maximized by the use of a thin, uniformly deposited barrier layer. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the barrier thickness requirements rapidly approach less than 75 Å to retain 90% of the conductivity benefit of copper at feature size (FS) of 0.18 μm and below, and the historical industry trend is continuous scaling to smaller feature sizes and higher aspect ratios (ratio of depth to width of the features). Copper interconnect lines are fabricated with a damascene process, where the Cu is deposited inside trench and via openings defined in the insulating material. Advanced metallization technologies deposit the Cu simultaneously in the lines and vias in a dual damascene process, where the aspect ratios may exceed 10:1. Therefore, innovative ultra-thin barrier material is needed with good diffusion barrier properties and low resistivity, that is 100% conformal along aggressively scaled topographies. Other key integration requirements are low resistivity, good adhesion to the both Cu and low-K materials, ability to promote preferred Cu texture, low deposition temperature, and thermal stability within the constraints of the back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) thermal budget, typically less than or ˜650° C., and long-term device operation. These functions put conflicting requirements on the material properties of the barrier, and this may be difficult to accomplish by just one film composition. One approach to meet these requirements is to employ barrier films composed of multiple sub-layers with tuned properties. In this respect, there is a need for composite barrier films. There also is a suitable technique, atomic layer deposition (ALD), which has the ability to grow ultra-thin conformal films with high precision control of thickness and to engineer the composition (T. Suntola, Thin Solid Films 216, p. 84, 1992, Sneh et al., Thin Solid Films, Vol. 402/1–2, pp. 248–261, January 2002).
Titanium nitride (TiN) is the commonly used barrier material with aluminum metallization. However, TiN is not likely to meet the challenges associated with extendibility to sub-0.18 μm and copper, because its diffusion barrier properties deteriorate as the film thickness is scaled down. Barrier materials naturally superior to TiN are the nitrides of the heavier refractory metals tantalum and tungsten.
TaNx-based materials have become the material of choice for copper barrier in present day IC manufacturing. TaN is a good barrier, however it has high resistivity and poor adhesion to Cu. On the other hand, Ta has good adhesion to Cu and lower resistivity, but it fails as a barrier. It has been established that some N incorporation in the metal film is essential for good barrier performance. However, it has been also established that the barrier/dielectric and barrier/Cu adhesion have conflicting dependencies on the percent of N in the barrier (Edelstein et al., IEDM Conference Proceedings 2001, IEEE, p. 9). Thus, some barrier film engineering is necessary and TaNx, or TaNx/Ta bi-layers have emerged as the barriers of choice (Edelstein et al., IEDM Conference Proceedings 2001, IEEE, p. 9).
The dominant technique for deposition of these advanced Cu barriers is ionized physical vapor deposition (IPVD). IPVD is a variant of sputter-deposition technology, where the sputtered atoms are ionized by the application of a magnetic field to improve step coverage. PVD techniques have the advantage of maturity, long history of application in the IC industry, good control of film composition. However, even the state of the art TaNx film deposition technologies only approach 33% step coverage in currently manufactured device geometries. Additionally, PVD deposited composite films containing more than one metal element may suffer from non-uniform film composition along the side wall of the features.
For improving the step coverage the dominant technique for deposition of thin films in the art has been chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which has proven to have superior ability to provide uniform even coatings, and to coat relatively conformally into vias and over other high-aspect ratio and uneven features in wafer topology. As device density has continued to increase and geometry has continued to become more complex, even the superior conformal coating of CVD techniques has been challenged, and new and better techniques are needed. Additionally, CVD processes generally have very narrow window for fabrication of multi-component films and the control over film composition is not as precise as in PVD. Furthermore, issues related to the CVD system complexity, cost and maintenance are encountered.
The approach of a variant of CVD, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) has been considered for improvement in uniformity, conformality, and control of film composition, especially for low temperature deposition, appropriate for interconnect BEOL processing requirements.
Atomic Layer Deposition is emerging as a promising candidate to extend the abilities of CVD techniques, and is under rapid development by semiconductor equipment manufacturers to further improve characteristics of chemical vapor deposition. ALD was originally termed Atomic Layer Epitaxy by T. Suntola (Suntola and J. Ashton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,430). Generally, ALD is a process wherein conventional CVD processes are divided into single deposition steps, wherein each separate deposition step theoretically goes to saturation at a single or a fraction of a monolayer thickness, and self-terminates.
The deposition is the result of chemical reactions between reactive molecular precursors and the reactive surface of the growing film. In similarity to CVD, elements composing the film are delivered as molecular precursors. The net reaction deposits the pure desired film and eliminates the byproducts. In the case of CVD the molecular precursors are fed simultaneously into the CVD reactor. A substrate is kept at temperature that is optimized to promote chemical reaction between the molecular precursors concurrent with efficient desorption of the byproducts.
For ALD applications, the molecular precursors are introduced into the ALD reactor separately. This is practically done by flowing one precursor at a time, i.e., a metal precursor—MLx (M=Ti, Al, W, Ta, Si etc.) that contains a metal element—M which is bonded to atomic or molecular ligands—L to make a volatile molecule. The metal precursor reaction is typically followed by inert gas purging to eliminate this precursor from the chamber prior to the separate introduction of the other precursor. The second type of precursor is used to grow the desired film and restore the surface reactivity towards the metal precursor.
Most ALD processes have been applied to deposit compound films. In this case the second precursor is composed of a desired (usually nonmetallic) element (i.e., O, N), and hydrogen such as, for example H2O or NH3. Specifically, oxides are formed when H2O is used, and nitrides, when NH3 is employed. FIG. 2 illustrates the process for the formation of TiN and TaNx films by ALD. TiN is grown by alternating TiCl4 and NH3 pulses. Purge step is performed after every pulse to remove the precursor from the deposition chamber. Similarly, TaNx is deposited from sequential TaCl5 and NH3 pulses. Methods for thermal and plasma assisted ALD processes now exist for the deposition of elemental materials (J. W. Klaus et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 70, 1997, p. 1092; Imai et al., 1993). Plasma assisted ALD can also be used for the deposition of compound films (O. Sneh, U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,893, 2001).
The sequence of surface reactions that restores the surface to the initial state is called the ALD deposition cycle. By repeating the ALD cycles, films can be layered down in equal metered sequences that are all identical in chemical kinetics, deposition per cycle, composition and thickness. Self-saturating surface reactions make ALD insensitive to transport non-uniformity either from flow engineering or surface topography (i.e., deposition into high aspect ratio structures). Non uniform precursor flux can only result in different completion time at different areas of the wafer. However, if each of the reactions is allowed to complete on the entire substrate area, the different completion kinetics has no disadvantage.
Some research has been done on conducting film deposition by ALD for barrier applications (A. Satta et al., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 612, 2000, p. D6.5.1, MRS; P. Martensson et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 17, p. 2122, 1999) however composite conductive film engineering has not been documented. A related effort in the integration of copper interconnects using atomic layer deposition has included the concept of a barrier and a Cu pre-seed by ALD followed by a CVD seed (S. Lopatin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,954, 2002). This approach is related art to the concept disclosed here by commonality of application, but does not address the detailed design and structure of the ALD barriers.
There is a need for diffusion barrier films that simultaneously address and satisfy the requirements for incorporation in advanced microelectronics devices, such as, good diffusion barrier properties, low resistivity, 100% conformallity along aggressively scaled topographies, good adhesion to both the Cu and low-K materials, ability to promote preferred Cu texture, with deposition temperature and thermal stability within the constraints of the BEOL thermal budget, and the like.

Methods and procedures for engineering of composite conductive films by atomic layer deposition


A camera module includes a housing having a guide groove formed therein, the guide groove being extended lengthwise in an optical axis direction, a lens barrel mounted in the housing and having a guide protrusion inserted into the guide groove, and an elastic member disposed on the guide groove so that the guide protrusion may be prevented from being separated from the guide groove.

The present disclosure relates to a camera module provided in a mobile terminal.
Camera modules commonly have an auto-focusing function. In addition, camera modules also have an optical image stabilization (OIS) function in order to decrease a resolution reduction phenomenon due to hand-shake.
Camera modules having the above-mentioned functions have a structure in which a lens unit may move in an optical axis direction or in a direction perpendicular to that of an optical axis with respect to a housing of the camera module.
However, in such a structure, the lens unit may easily collide with the housing of the camera module due to external impacts. Therefore, a structure for decreasing damage or noise due to external impacts is required.
For reference, Patent Document 1 discloses a camera module as the related art.


An actuator drive circuit of a liquid discharge apparatus includes a discharge waveform generating circuit, a sleep waveform generating circuit, and a wake waveform generating circuit. The discharge waveform generating circuit is configured to generate a plurality of drive waveforms to be applied to actuators of the liquid discharge apparatus for liquid discharge. The drive waveforms correspond to gradation values of gradation scale data. The sleep waveform generating circuit is configured to generate a sleep waveform to be applied to the actuators. The sleep waveform causes a voltage of the actuators to transition to a first voltage without liquid discharge. The wake waveform generating circuit is configured to generate a wake waveform to be applied to the actuators. The wake waveform causes the voltage of the actuators to transition to a second voltage higher than the first voltage without liquid discharge.

In the related art, there is a liquid discharge apparatus for supplying a predetermined amount of liquid at a predetermined position. The liquid discharge apparatus is mounted on, for example, an ink jet printer, a 3D printer, or a liquid dispensing apparatus. An ink jet printer discharges an ink droplet from an ink jet head to print an image on a surface of a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper. A 3D printer discharges a droplet of a molding material from a molding material discharge head. The discharged molding material is hardened to form a three-dimensional molding. A liquid dispensing apparatus discharges a droplet of a sample to supply a predetermined amount of sample to a plurality of containers.
An ink jet head, which is the liquid discharge apparatus of the ink jet printer, includes a piezoelectric drive type actuator as a drive apparatus that discharges ink from a nozzle. A set of nozzles and actuators forms one channel. A head drive circuit applies a drive voltage waveform to a selected actuator based upon print data, thereby driving the selected actuator according to the print data. It has been proposed to suspend application of a bias voltage while printing is not being performed in order to prevent the actuator from deteriorating. For example, in a proposed method, when the print data are latched in a three-stage buffer and the next notional dot is blank, application of the bias voltage is suspended. However, in this method, whether or not to suspend the bias voltage or whether or not to start applying the bias voltage is determined by the previous presence or absence of the printing instruction in the three-stage buffer, such that it is not possible to freely adjust the application time of the bias voltage before the printing. Therefore, it is not possible to cope with a situation in which the characteristics of the actuator quickly change after the bias voltage is applied, and as a result, the print quality may deteriorate.

Actuator drive circuit of liquid discharge apparatus and print control apparatus


A method and system for magnetic actuated mixing which use magnetic particles, non-magnetic abrasive particles and electromagnetic field to facilitate milling. The method and system use magnetic particles and a generated electromagnetic field to facilitate the milling as well. The method and system can be used in any application that requires the preparation of small-sized particles at either the micro or nano scale, including for example, preparing toners, inks, wax, pigment dispersions and the like.

The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to a method and system for magnetic actuated mixing which use magnetic particles and electromagnetic field to facilitate milling of different materials. In the present embodiments, the mixing of materials uses the step of milling. Milling is the process of breaking down material and thus involves particle size reduction. The magnetic particles act as milling media. The system further includes non-magnetic abrasive particles in the milling media to facilitate the milling. The present embodiments may be used in many different applications, including for example, preparing toners, inks, wax, pigment dispersions, paints, photoreceptor materials and the like. The present embodiments may be used for any application that requires the preparation of small-sized particles at either the micro or nano scale.
In many batch processes, the milling step is one of most critical steps to determine the overall performance of the process. For example, in applications where small-sized particles are produced, achieving the small scale and uniform distribution of the particles is determined by the milling step.
Improvements on milling methods and systems often generate more complex setups which have their own set of problems, such as increase mechanical maintenance of parts. Recently, acoustic mixing has been used to avoid inefficient milling. As shown in FIG. 1, an acoustic mixing system 30 uses a non-contact mean to provide micro scale mixing 35 within a micro zone of about 50 μm in a closed vessel 40. However, generating the acoustic wave still relies on mechanical resonance as controlled by engineered plates, eccentric weights and springs. Special care and protection of the mechanism to generate mechanical resonance is typically used and any small turbulence may cause catastrophic damage on the system. Therefore, the overall service life is still limited to the effective lifetime of the mechanical components. Thus, such systems are not free of mechanical maintenance. In addition, the acoustic energy decays at distances far away from the source.
There is thus a need for a new and improved milling method and system that overcomes the problems encountered with the conventional systems being used as described above.

Method and system for magnetic actuated mixing


A suspended ceiling comprises first and second rows of panels being connected to overhead structures and an intermediate row of panels interposed therebetween. Each panel comprises front and rear edges and lateral sides. The first lateral side of a given panel of the intermediate row is configured to be releasably mounted to the complementarily configured lateral side of an adjacent panel of the first row. The second lateral side of the given panel of the intermediate row is configured to be releasably mounted to the complementarily configured lateral side of an adjacent panel of the second row. The given panel of the intermediate row can be removed by being lifted away from the panels of the first and second rows.

Suspended ceilings are usually made of a metal grid consisting of tracks in the form of longitudinal parallel runners spaced apart from one another at a desired distance and separated by cross members in a perpendicular fashion thereby creating a plurality of rectangular openings. In general, those rectangular openings are of standard sizes allowing the ventilation outlets and the lighting fixtures to be easily inserted among the ceiling panels.
Suspended ceilings have been mostly utilized in office buildings and in housing basements because of the handiness that such systems allow to repair and/or to modify the partition of the space. However, most development in suspended ceilings has been towards improving the convenience for offices, without any improvement to the visual aspect of the ceiling. Indeed, the typical ceiling panels are made of fibrous material with a flat bottom finish, which are inserted in the rectangular openings made of the metal grid. Such unappealing designs have restricted the installation of suspended ceilings in residential construction to the basement and hinder their distribution whenever an upscale finish is desired.
The use of tracks also increases labor and material costs and interferes with the overall esthetic look of the suspended ceiling.


A combination (10) of a replaceable filter element (21) and a core element (38) is provided, the filter element comprising a tubular wall (25) of filtration medium for collecting material in a fluid stream passing through the tubular wall (25), a first end part (26) and a second end part. The core element (38) comprises a perforated tube (39) having transverse outer dimensions smaller than transverse inner dimensions of the tubular wall (25), and a bypass valve member (35) provided at one end of the perforated tube (39). The bypass valve member (35) is tubular and moveably attached to the perforated tube (39) for movement in axial direction with respect to the perforated tube (39) between an extended position and a retracted position. The first end part (26) of the filter element (21) comprises an axial passage (29) configured to receive the bypass valve member (35) slideable and sealingly.

Filter systems, or filter assemblies, have for example been employed in a variety of applications including hydraulic systems, fuel systems and engine lubrication systems. Application of filter systems for filtering gaseous media are also known. Such assemblies for example use replaceable or exchangeable filter elements that can be installed on a filter head for filtering fluid flowing from an inlet to an outlet port in the filter head while passing through the filtration medium of the filter element. The filter element typically is contained within a filter housing such as a can that can be attached to and be detached from the filter head by means of a rotational connection means such as thread or the like.
Often filter systems are provided with a so-called core element, which may be in the form of a perforated tube which is for example arranged along an inner surface of the filtration medium of the filter element. The core element provides mechanical support to the filtration medium, which normally has a limited structural strength. Hence, a core element provides support to prevent the filtration medium from deforming under the pressure difference that exists across it.
In a so-called spin-on filter, the can, and the filter element are formed as one integral unit, which unit is—when replacing the filter element—removed and discarded as one unit. An integral unit is according to the present application to be understood as a unit which can essentially only be divided into its individual components or elements by destroying the connective parts of the unit.
In other configurations, only the filter element is replaced and the core element and/or the filter housing is reused.
In these kinds of configurations, the filter element, on the one hand, and the core element and/or the filter housing on the other hand form two separate structural units. The invention especially relates to these kinds of configurations, wherein the filter element on the one hand and the core element on the other hand, form two separate structural units. Alternatively, the filter element on the one hand and the core element plus the filter housing on the other hand, form two separate structural units. In the latter alternative case to which the present invention also relates, the core element will be fitted to the filter housing. According to the invention "two separate structural units" means two units which can be assembled together as well as be disassembled from each other whilst maintaining the structural integrity of each of said separate units.
During use the filter element may become clogged to the point that is causes a problem in the system, such as inadequate flow to components downstream of the filter, excessive pressure upstream of the filter element, and/or damage to the filter element allowing the accumulated contaminants to flow to components downstream of the filter element. Normally this is avoided by scheduled replacement of the filter element, or when the system indicates that replacement is required. It is thus necessary to replace the filter element from time to time.
Filter elements commonly have a wall of a filtration medium and an end cap, or end part, with an inlet (or outlet) which can be sealed to the head part of the housing to provide a flow path for a fluid stream to be supplied to the interior or space (or to be extracted from the space) within the filter element. The inlet (or outlet) is provided by a port or passage on the end part of the filter element. The port may e.g. have an O-ring seal on its external surface which is received in a bore within the housing, in which it is compressed to form a seal. Often, such a filtration medium has a cylindrical shape. The fluid to be filtered enters the filter assembly via the inlet, the inlet being arranged in such manner that the fluid can distribute along the outer surface of the filtration medium. The fluid is then forced through the filtration medium whereby contaminants (material) in the fluid remain captured in the filter member and the filtered fluid is forced to an outlet of the filter assembly. As an alternative, the flow may be in opposite direction; the contaminated fluid entering the filter element axially and then being forced through the filtration medium thereby flowing substantially radially outward.
Filter assemblies as described can e.g. be applied to filter oil of a lubrication system or an hydraulic system of e.g. a crane. In order to maintain the fluid flowing through the system (i.e. comprising tubing and a filter assembly), a pump is required. This is due to the fact that both the tubing and the filter assembly represent a resistance for the fluid flow. In general, the pump can be driven by an electrical motor or a combustion engine such as diesel engine for example.
In order to gain access to the filter element when it has to be replaced (exchanged), the head and body parts of the housing can be separated. When the filter element is replaced, also any end cap assemblies or end parts attached to it are replaced with it. Many of such end cap assemblies are provided with a so-called bypass flow valve assembly. Such a valve assembly is provided to allow the fluid to be filtered to bypass the filtration medium in case that the pressure difference over the filtration medium has increased beyond allowable limits. Such an occasion exists for example when the filter member has become clogged or needs replacement, but has not yet been replaced. Also other instances in which the pressure in the fluid system increases beyond allowable limits are conceivable. In such cases the bypass flow valve opens and a bypass flow is established. When such a filter element is replaced, also the bypass flow valve assembly provided in it is replaced. This is also true for the above-mentioned spin-on filters of course.
On the one hand this produces additional waste and on the other hand a relatively expensive assembly is discarded when a filter element is replaced.
It is also known to arrange a bypass valve in the head portion. In general this is done by providing a bore connecting the inlet of the head to the outlet of the head, wherein the bypass valve is arranged in the bore to open in case a predefined pressure is exceeded.

Combination of a filter element and a core element, and a filter element

Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Netherlands (Filtration) B.V.


A method for the configuration, particularly for the initial configuration, of a communication link-up for transmitting voice and/or user data, comprising the following method steps: a) defining a Config message as configuration IP packet on the administration server; b) transmitting the Config message to the primary network component having proxy capability; c) automatic configuring of the latter; d) forwarding of the Config message to at least one secondary network component, and e) automatic configuring of the latter.

The invention relates to a method for the configuration, particularly the initial configuration, of a communication link-up for transmitting voice and/or user data.
If network components (data terminals), which in their spatial system are installed in a building or in the grounds of the company, are connected to one another in a data network, such a data network is called a local area network (LAN) in the literature. In large networks (LANs), the number of jointly used resources (hard disks, files, printers, communication servers, gateways etc.) increases very rapidly which results in high administrative expenditure for the network, the jointly used resources must be clearly presented so that the network facilitates the work for the users.
This problem can only be solved by a logical administrative structure. In the current network operating systems, the two different approaches of the Directory Services (Novell Network) and of the domains (Windows NT Server, IBM LAN Manager) generally exist for this purpose. In principle, it applies to all Unix variants (derivatives) such as SCO Unix, Solaris, IBM AIX, HPUX or Linux that the network capability is already integrated into the core of the system. This allows both own networks to be set up and linking to other servers.
So that all data networks or device units used in a network can be unambiguously identified, certain addresses are in each case allocated to them which are called nodes. As a rule, the node addresses are permanently entered on the network cards (interfaces) used and are unambiguous throughout the world. They are administered at a central location and each manufacturer of such network cards is allocated a particular batch of numbers to be used. For Ethernet network cards, a 48-bit MAC (Media Access Control) address is specified which enables an interface to be unambiguously identified.
To structure an LAN meaningfully from the point of view of simple administration or allocation of network components to certain work groups or projects, IP addresses are issued to the individual network components during the configuration, particularly during the initial configuration of an LAN, which addresses unambiguously identify these components in a domain or subdomain and provide for communication between them, e.g. on the basis of the TCP/IP protocol. The individual network components are normally not set up directly on site which would mean considerable personnel and time expenditure but remotely by an administration server on which, as a rule, the network operating system is running.
For this purpose, current network operating systems provide the network administrator with an extensive selection of functions such as, e.g., the IVWADMIN, IVWUSER, SYSCONW etc. in Novell Netware, by which new network components (initial configuration) can be integrated and users, storage media, printers etc. can be administered under one graphic interface. To configure network components in an (Ethernet) LAN, the corresponding service programs use standard functions such as (proxy) ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) for recognizing the MAC address allocated to an IP address for administering the network. Conversely, the IP address for a MAC address is recognized in RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol). Diskless systems such as, e.g., X terminals or diskless workstations load their operating system via the network from an operating system server, initially requesting an IP address allocated to their MAC address by BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol).
Structured communication networks by which data of all types are transmitted to the desired, addressee are becoming more and more important within the companies and organizations.
"Telephony by Internet" (IP telephony) via the intranets of the companies or organizations is also playing an ever more important role. However, this presupposes that existing LANs which may be widely separated are coupled via long-distance links to form a WAN (Wide Area Network). The problems associated with this are not only a possible heterogeneity of the linked networks due to different physical transmission media, network architectures (BUS or Token Ring), types of protocols and operating systems but also the configuration and administration, particularly the initial configuration, of such communication link-ups.
Usually, two LANs are coupled by a point-to-point connection between a primary network component (Gateway, Router) directly linked to an LAN and a secondary network component directly linked to the second LAN. On this point-to-point link, transmission protocols such as the PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) or SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) are used. The primary network component having direct access to the data network is usually provided with a so-called proxy capability—proxy ARP in the TCP/IP environment—in such systems. Whereas the primary component can be automatically initially configured with the respective mechanisms of the data network such as RARP or BOOTTP in the case of TCP/IP, such automation is not available for the network components indirectly linked (secondary network components). Thus, a simple initial configuration of a communication link-up structured in this manner does not allow the secondary network components to be reached from a network.
Although the access parameters of each network component without direct access to the network can be configured in a proprietary manner, i.e. manually and directly at the device, for the linking-up to the network, this is time-consuming and uneconomic, especially in the case of WANs with a spatial extent which is considerable in some cases. Another possibility relates to predefining a so-called default configuration of the network components without direct access to the data network. However, this gives rise to the problem that a communication link-up must not then contain a number of network components of the same type because unambiguousness in the addressing would no longer be given.
From German Offenlegungsschrift DE 199 42 465 A1, a method for issuing IP addresses in communication networks is known. The communication network here comprises a configuration computer, a number of gateways and subscriber facilities connected to the gateways. According to the method, the gateways are configured in a first step and the subscriber facilities are configured in a second step. By way of example, the first switch is configured by a data transmission D1, i.e. supplied with its IP address, for example. The first switch then acquires all Ethernet addresses of the subscriber facilities connected to it, together with the respective assignment to the port, and sends these to the configuration computer by a data packet D3. It is only after it has received the data packet D3 that the configuration computer transmits the IP addresses to the subscriber facilities by the transmission D2.
Furthermore, a method for configuring network nodes is known from European Offenlegungsschrift EP 946 027 A2, in which the network nodes are configured in such a manner that they are their own default gateway.

Method and system for the configuration of a communication link-up


Described herein are systems and methods for the provision of data particularly for use in generating a blockchain environment for tracking emissions of a hybrid electric vehicle. The systems and methods include reading in position data representing a geographical position of a hybrid electric vehicle, reading in operating data representing an operating state of a drivetrain of the hybrid electric vehicle, forming a data block at least comprising the position data and the operating data, and adding the data block to a blockchain.

More and more cities or municipal administrations are in particular tending to set up what are known as environmental zones in order to in that way comply with air cleanliness regulations.
An environmental zone (also known as a low-emission region) here is a geographically defined region—usually in municipal conurbations—in which the operation of vehicles that are not identified as having low emissions is forbidden, which is intended to serve to improve the local air quality. There is, in addition, the concept of the zero-emission zone (ZEZ) in which, for example, only electric vehicles are allowed.
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a vehicle that is driven at least by a motor-driven electrical machine as a traction motor and a further energy converter as a further traction motor—usually a combustion engine such as a gasoline or diesel engine. While the electrical machine is supplied with electrical operating energy from a traction battery, the combustion engine is supplied by combustion fuel from a combustion fuel tank.
Such a hybrid electric vehicle can—depending on its configuration—be operated purely electrically and thus with zero emissions, partially electrically and thus with reduced emissions, and/or purely operated by the combustion engine and thus entailing emissions.
There is thus a need to indicate ways in which such operating states can be documented in a reliable manner that is secure against forgery, in particular within environmental zones.

Blockchain based ecosystem for emission tracking of plug in hybrid vehicles


A torsional vibration damper, for installation in the clutch disc of a motor vehicle friction clutch, the damping spring system of which torsional vibration damper comprises at least three spring stages which are sized for different torque ranges of the torque to be transmitted between an input component and an output component. The spring stages are graduated so that they are active in corresponding ranges of the relative angle of rotation between the input component and the output component. The torsional vibration damper comprises a pre-damper which is sized for operation at idle, a low-speed damper which is sized for travel at slow speeds, and a load damper which is sized for load operation. The spring stage of the low-speed damper has an initial torque which is lower than the final torque of the pre-damper, and the load damper also has an initial torque which is lower than the final torque of the low-speed damper. The pre-damper and the low-speed damper are connected to the output part by means of toothings in their disc parts which guide the damper springs so that they are axially movable, but have a rotational play which corresponds to the working range of the dampers. Friction devices corresponding to the individual damper stages can be installed between the individual disc parts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a torsional vibration damper which is designed for installation in the drive train of a motor vehicle, in particular for installation in a clutch disc of a motor vehicle friction clutch.
2. Background Information
When a motor vehicle is travelling either at extremely slow speeds or at slow speed on a level road or on a slight uphill or downhill grade, the engine of the motor vehicle is subjected to a torque between approximately 20 Nm when accelerating and approximately 10 Nm when decelerating. Under these operating conditions, transmission or rattling noises can occur, in particular when the transmission is in first or second gear.
To suppress transmission noises of this type during operation at idle, an idle or pre-damper is used in addition to the load damper which is sized for the operation under load of a torsional vibration damper, which pre-damper is integrated into the clutch disc of a motor vehicle friction clutch, the spring stage of which was sized for torques which were significantly lower than the torque to be transmitted in operation under load. In known torsional vibration dampers of clutch discs, the angle of rotation was limited, or similar measures were used, to ensure that the working range of the pre-damper was limited to an angular range around the idle position of the torsional vibration damper. In the adjacent working angle range of the load damper, the pre-damper was bridged or bypassed.
In conventional torsional vibration dampers, the torque range which is experienced during travel at extremely slow speeds lies near the lower limit of the working range of the load damper. In this range, the torsional rigidity of the torsional vibration damper is already so great that the above-mentioned noises in the transmission can be excited.
Previous attempts to damp such transmission noises have included approaches which involve modifying the drive train by means of the installation of a flywheel which has two inertial masses, or alternatively, by active interventions in the engine control system, but such solutions are relatively complex and expensive.
It is known that multi-stage damper spring systems can be integrated into clutch discs of motor vehicle friction clutches. If it is only necessary to realize one pre-damper and one load damper, the space available, which is generally at a premium, is sufficient for the installation of the spring stages. The installation of more than two spring stages which must be sized for different working ranges is frequently impossible because of a lack of available space. Moreover, the tuning of an idle or pre-damper on one hand and a damper for operation at extremely slow speeds sized in the manner explained above for travel at extremely slow speeds is also problematic on account of the proximity both of the working angle ranges and the torque ranges, in particular if there is only a small amount of space available, in particular in the axial direction. Multi-stage dampers are also generally complex, time consuming and expensive to install. Known devices of this type also include torsional vibration dampers, the damping spring systems of which have a flattened spring characteristic.
DE-A-36 14 158, for example, discloses a torsional vibration damper which, in common apertures of a central disc on one hand and two lateral discs which are located axially one on either side of the central disc, contains pairs of damper springs which are supported on one another by means of a freely-moving intermediate piece. The intermediate piece, which can consist of intermediate discs on both sides of the central disc which are oriented so that they can rotate, has stops to limit the angle of rotation of the individual springs of each spring pair, to achieve a graduation of the spring characteristic.
DE-A-34 07 524 discloses that the working range of the pre-damper of a torsional vibration damper integrated into a clutch disc can be limited, and by applying a bias to the springs of a spring stage which is sized for load operation, it is possible to ensure that the initial torque of the load spring stage will be less than the final torque of the pre-damper spring stage. In this manner, the two spring stages which are connected in series can be made to work together in the transitional range, and a transition between the damper characteristic of the pre-damper spring stage on the one hand and the damper characteristic of the load damper stage on the other hand results which avoids sudden changes in torque.
To simplify the installation of multi-stage torsional vibration dampers, in particular for clutch discs, U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,767 teaches that the pre-damper can be realized in the form of an independently functioning module which can be handled separately, so that the pre-damper can be assembled and tested independently of the process of assembling and installing the load damper, before the pre-damper and the load damper are combined.

Clutch disc with a torsional vibration damper for a motor vehicle friction clutch


The present invention is a back illuminated image array device and a method of constructing such a device. The device is generally comprised of an array circuitry layer, a front layer, and a quartz layer. The array circuitry layer is defined on one surface of the front layer. The quartz layer is mounted on the other surface of the front layer. The method of fabricating the device is generally comprised of the following steps. The method provides a wafer having a thick silicon layer, an oxide layer on the thick silicon layer, and a front silicon layer on the oxide layer. The front layer has a first surface and a second surface with the second surface proximal to the oxide layer. Array circuitry is formed on the first surface of the front layer. A temporary layer is applied to the surface of the array circuitry. The thick silicon layer and the oxide layers are removed from the wafer, thereby, exposing the second surface of the front layer. A quartz layer is applied to the second surface. The temporary layer is removed from the array surface.

The present invention is generally related to the field of imagers, such as, photon detectors and image sensors/focal plane arrays. In particular, the present invention relates to a back illuminated image array device and a method of constructing such a device.
Imagers such as photon detectors, image sensors/focal plane arrays, and the like, are of interest in a wide variety of sensing and imaging applications in a wide range of fields including consumer, commercial, industrial, and space.
Presently, imagers based on charge coupled devices (CCDs) are most widely utilized. However, imagers based on charge injection devices (CIDs) are gaining popularity since they provide unique performance characteristics over CCDs, such as, a non-destructive readout, superior anti-blooming, inherent radiation tolerance, random pixel addressing, and high readout rates. CIDs are becoming utilized more, particularly, in applications where their unique performance characteristics are advantageous. It is in the field of these two types of imagers in which the present invention can be best utilized.
Both of these imagers are typically fabricated on a silicon wafer, more typically, a wafer having an epitaxial silicon front layer. These devices are typically designed for front side illumination. Front side illumination, while traditionally utilized in standard imagers, has significant performance limitations such as: 1) low fill factor/low sensitivity and 2) limited spectral response, particularly in the UV to blue region of the spectrum.
The problem of low fill factor/low sensitivity is typically due to the shadowing caused by the presence of opaque metal bus lines, and absorption by the array circuitry structure formed on the front surface in the pixel region. Thus, the active region of the pixel is typically very small (low fill factor) in large format (high-resolution) front illuminated imagers. This structure reduces the overall sensitivity of the imager.
The problem of limited spectral response, particularly in the UV to blue region of the spectrum, is also typically due to the absorption of these wavelengths in the UV to blue region by the array circuitry structure.
To solve these problems, back illuminated CCDs have been proposed in the prior art. They are typically fabricated by thinning of the silicon wafer after fabricating the CCD circuitry by techniques such as surface grinding and mechanical polishing, and etching of the back of the silicon wafer. However, this approach limits the minimum silicon wafer thickness due to the need for the silicon wafer to be self-supporting and accessible for illumination from the back side. A silicon thickness for the optimum UV to near IR response is typically in the range of 5-10 microns. This is difficult to achieve using the prior art techniques that produce self-supporting silicon structures with backside thinning.
The present invention addresses these needs, as well as other problems associated with existing imager devices.
The present invention is a back illuminated image array device and a method of constructing such a device. The device is generally comprised of an array circuitry layer, a front layer, and a quartz layer. The array circuitry layer is defined on one surface of a front layer. The quartz layer is mounted on the other surface of the front layer.
The method of fabricating the device is generally comprised of the following steps. The method provides a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) wafer having a thick silicon layer, an oxide (SiO2) layer on the thick silicon layer, and a thin front silicon layer on the oxide layer. The front layer has a first surface and a second surface with the second surface proximal to the oxide layer. Array circuitry is formed on the first surface of the front layer. A temporary layer is applied to the surface of the array circuitry. The thick silicon layer and the oxide layers are removed from the wafer, thereby, exposing the second surface of the front layer. A quartz layer is applied to the second surface. The temporary layer is removed from the array surface.
The aforementioned benefits and other benefits including specific features of the invention will become clear from the following description by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Back illuminated imager with enhanced UV to near IR sensitivity


A composition for attracting female tropical root weevils (and/or repelling male tropical root weevils), containing (±)-linalool, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and carvacrol, and optionally a carrier or carrier material known in the art. A method for attracting female tropical root weevils to an object or area, involving treating the object or area with a composition containing a female tropical root weevil attracting effective amount of (±)-linalool, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and carvacrol, and optionally a carrier or carrier material. A method for repelling male tropical root weevils from an object or area, involving treating the object or area with a composition containing a male tropical root weevil repelling effective amount of (±)-linalool, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and carvacrol, and optionally a carrier or carrier material.

The present invention relates to a composition for attracting female tropical root weevils (and/or repelling male tropical root weevils), containing (±)-linalool, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and carvacrol, and optionally a carrier or carrier material known in the art.
The present invention also relates to a method for attracting female tropical root weevils to an object or area, involving treating the object or area with a composition containing a female tropical root weevil attracting effective amount of (±)-linalool, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and carvacrol, and optionally a carrier or carrier material. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for repelling male tropical root weevils from an object or area, involving treating the object or area with a composition containing a male tropical root weevil repelling effective amount of (±)-linalool, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and carvacrol, and optionally a carrier or carrier material.
The tropical root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (L. 1758) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a phytophagous insect which feeds on at least 270 plant species (Martorell, L. F., Annotated food plant catalog of the insects of Puerto Rico, 1976, Agr. Exp. Stat., University of Puerto Rico; Simpson S. E., et al., Environ. Entomol., 25: 333-349 (1996)). D. abbreviatus has been a pest in the Caribbean Islands since the early 19th century, feeding on economically important crops such as guava, coffee, sugar cane, lime, corn, sweet potato, and cotton (Lapointe, S. L., Manejo Integrado de Plagas y Agroecología (Costa Rica), 71: 106-111 (2004)). In 1964, D. abbreviatus weevil was introduced into the southern part of United States where it is considered a major threat to orange crops (Lapointe 2004) and ornamental trees (Mannion, C., et al, Florida Entomol., 86(2): 165-173 (2003)). Prior to pupation, D. abbreviatus larvae live in the soil and feed on roots causing damage that can result in the death of mature trees. When larval development is completed, adults emerge from the soil to feed upon foliage where aggregation, mate encounter, and oviposition take place. Eventually, new born larvae fall to the ground and enter the soil (Lapointe, S. L., and J. P. Shapiro, Florida Entomol., 82: 291-299 (1999)), thus reinitiating the life cycle.
While some methods are available to control and detect this invasive insect (McCoy, C. W., et al, 2006 Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide: Citrus Root Weevils, IFAS, University of Florida ENY611, pp. 5 (2005)), new knowledge is needed to enhance sustainable pest management strategies.
We have found that a composition containing (±)-linalool, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and carvacrol, and optionally a carrier or carrier material known in the art, attracts female tropical root weevils and repels male tropical root weevils.

Attractants and repellents for the tropical root weevil

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


The invention relates to a vegetable peeler having two gripping surfaces connected to each other by a peeling blade as well as a cross-piece. According to the invention, the two lateral gripping surfaces and the interconnecting cross-piece are forming a holder, the dimension of the legs (L) of the U-shaped holder being shorter in peeling direction (A) than the distance (B) between the gripping surfaces. In this way, direct guiding the peeling blade is enabled without any lever arm. The peeling blade, when used, is directly between the fingers and, therefore, can be guided in an extremely precise, handy and safe way.

Vegetable peelers have been known and been around the market for a significant amount of time. The most common types of vegetable peelers are peeling blade e.g., pendulum blade which includes a cutting edge, also called blade, and a guiding plate, also called guiding cross-piece, which extends parallel thereto and delimits the thickness of the portion to be peeled off. Such peeling blades are either held on one side by a shank, like a knife, or are supported at both sides between two lateral surfaces which continue often in a handle, thus forming a grip spaced from the peeling blade.
Vegetable peelers comprising pendulum blades which are held unilaterally by a shank are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 2,252,094; 2,351,327 or 3,956,825. The embodiments described in these documents differ substantially only in the manner of pivotally supporting the pendulum blade.
Vegetable peelers comprising pendulum blades which are supported at both sides are known, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,813 or JP-A-10 155 647. In the case of the vegetable peeler known from the latter document, the guiding cross-piece extending parallel to the blade is subdivided, thus making it flexible and cutting a more or less thick peel disk of the vegetable in dependence on the pressure exerted. The solutions according to the above-mentioned documents have the disadvantage that the hand, with which a known peeler is held, has to perform large movements in order to be able to guide the peeling blade in an aimed manner.
With a vegetable peeler having a unilaterally held pendulum blade, the user holds normally the shank which extends laterally off the pendulum blade. The use of such a vegetable peeler is substantially effected by a pivotal movement similar to that of a knife. Vegetable peelers having a peeling blade with two sides in form of a pendulum blade are often used with a drawing motion towards the user or with a motion under pressure off the user, the blade following the drawing motion or the motion under pressure. Depending on the embodiment, the distance between the peeling blade and the grip is more or less large.


The present invention provides a biofuel cell which can react with an electrode without mediator. The microorganism of a biofuel cell according to the present invention can directly consume the electrons generated from a fermentative metabolism of the microorganism through an electron metabolism without energy conservation. Therefore, if waste water is utilized as a fuel (substrate) in the biofuel cell according to the present invention, the amount of sludge production will be reduced and the efficiency of catabolizing organic materials will be increased.

A biofuel cell is an apparatus which can convert reducing equivalents generated from the energy metabolism of an organism into electric energy using the organism or a part of the organism. For generation of electricity using a microbial fuel cell, electrons generated from the energy metabolism of a microorganism should be transferred to an electrode. However, cells of all kinds of microorganisms are surrounded by a membrane, and such a membrane is made of nonconducting lipids. Thus, direct electron exchanges between a microorganism and an electrode cannot accomplished. Therefore, when a microorganism is used as a catalyst, a suitable mediator should be used to facilitate electron transfer between an organism and an electrode.
Roller et al. disclose a biofuel cell which utilizes as a catalyst Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Atcaligenes eutrophus, Azotobacter chroococum, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, etc. and as an electron transfer mediator thionine, methylene blue, brilliant cresyl blue, benzyl viologen, etc. [See, Roller et al., 1984, Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 34B:3-12]. Roller et al. confirmed that the efficiency of the biofuel cell compared to the amounts of the consumed oxygen varies depending on the bacteria used and the kind of the electron transfer mediator. Also, in a fuel cell in which glucose was used as a fuel, it appeared that the best bacteria in terms of the amount of oxygen consumption and the reduction rates of an electron transfer mediator were Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris [See, ibid].
In a biofuel cell using an electron transfer mediator, the rates of substrate consumption, the reduction rates of mediator by a microbe and the reactivity of an electron transfer mediator with electrodes, etc. are believed to be important factors for the efficiency of a biofuel cell. In addition, the metabolism of a microbe is influenced by the redox potential of an electron transfer mediator, thus the microbe's durability as a catalyst is also very important.
Robin et al. have constituted a biofuel cell with 45 mg of Proteus. vulgaris as a biocatalyst, 0.5 mM of hydroxynaphatoquinone (HNQ) as an electron transfer mediator, and 20 .mu.M of glucose as a fuel, which revealed an electromotive power of 0.5 milliamperes (mA) and 0.7 volts (V) [See, Robin et al., 1993, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 39/40:27-40].
Bennetto et al. disclose a fuel cell constituted by sugar as a fuel, Proteus vulgaris as a catalyst and thionine as a mediator [See, Bennetto et al., 1985, Biotechnology Letters, 7:699-704]. This cell is reported to generate up to 44 coulombs (C) of electric current.
Meanwhile, Habermann and Pommer have reported that 150 mA per cm.sup.2 of electric current was generated from a fuel cell comprising as an electrode cobalt oxide, molybdenum/vanadium alloy in place of an electron transfer mediator, and as a fuel hydrogen sulfide which a sulfate reducing bacterium produces in waste water [See, Habermann and Pommer, 1991, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 33:128-133].
Biofuel cells developed hitherto essentially use an artificial electron transfer mediator or a mediator equivalent such as sulfate. Such an artificial mediator can promote the efficiency of a fuel cell. However, the artificial mediator has disadvantages that they should be used in a limited amount since it is toxic to the microorganisms, and exerts adverse effects on microbial populations. In addition, the artificial mediator may cause environmental problems when disposing of it after consumption. Even in a case where such an artificial mediator is not used, there has been a problem that a specific metal which is not eroded by hydrogen sulfide should be used as an electrode when constructing a fuel cell since the reductive metabolic products (i. e., hydrogen sulfide) produced by a microorganism should be used as an electron transfer medium.

Korea Institute of Science and Technology


A rotation rate sensor is described that operates on the principle of a resonant vibration gyrometer and is excited by an amplitude-regulated oscillator loop. This sensor is used for instance to ascertain the yaw speed of a vehicle. The effect of Coriolis acceleration is evaluated, which is a measure for the current yaw speed. To monitor the operability of the sensor and the associated electronics, an integrated self-test function is used, which as a so-called BITE function introduces a defined interference variable after actuation of a test input. This defined interference variable leads to an estimatable output voltage, whose occurrence is evaluated for error detection.

The invention is based on a device for ascertaining a rate of rotation.
The use of rotation rate sensors, which function for instance on the principle of a vibration gyrometer, in conjunction with systems for regulating the driving dynamics of motor vehicles is already known. Such sensors evaluate the effect of the Coriolis acceleration, which serves as a measure of the actual yaw speed of the vehicle.
Such a rotation rate sensor is described for instance by U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,220. In that patent, the typical construction of such a sensor and the associated evaluation circuit are described in further detail. Essentially, this sensor is a thin-walled hollow cylinder of elastic material. A plurality of piezoelectric sensor elements are mounted on the cylinder wall, with two sensor elements at a time facing one another. These sensor elements are set into constant mechanical drive oscillations with the aid of an oscillator loop. The Coriolis effect, together with a rotary speed coupled in vertically to the drive oscillation, brings about a Coriolis acceleration, which causes a deflection of the drive oscillation in the Coriolis direction. This deflection is a measure for the coupled-in rate of rotation. The resultant output voltage is ascertained with the aid of a detector circuit and finally is utilized to determine the rate of rotation.
The sensor along with the associated evaluation circuit known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,220 has the disadvantage that a malfunction cannot readily be detected. If such a sensor is used in conjunction with systems relevant to safety in a motor vehicle, then it is necessary that the operability be monitored.

Device for ascertaining a rate of rotation


A coupling system for connecting supply lines between a trailer and a tractor vehicle, with a socket which is arranged on the tractor vehicle and a support element, having a plug, which is arranged on the trailer. The invention is based on the problem of providing a robustly operating coupling system in which an automatic connection of all of the provided supply lines is possible. The problem is solved by a coupling system in which the socket is arranged in a positionally fixed manner on the tractor vehicle, the plug is guided in a laterally moveable manner in the support element, and the plug can be placed into a connecting position with the socket by an actuator which is arranged on the tractor vehicle.

The supply lines, for example, can be provided for the transmission of electric power and/or compressed air, and the trailer can be a semitrailer or any other kind of trailing vehicle.
Coupling systems are known in various configurations. In the most simple case, there is a plug and a socket, which are fastened to more or less elastic lines. After the mechanical connection of trailer and tractor vehicle, it is also necessary to join the supply lines together. For this, a person must connect the plug and socket by hand. Before uncoupling the trailer, the coupling system must again be separated. If one forgets to do so, the coupling system will be torn apart.
Thus, there are efforts under way on the one hand to automate the connecting and separating of coupling systems and on the other hand to make it more safe.
Therefore, in the case of road trains, it was already attempted in the past to lead the supply lines through the kingpin of the trailer, which in the coupled state of trailer and tractor vehicle cooperates with a corresponding mating piece in the fifth wheel. Such a coupling system is described, for example, in EP 0 816 211 A2. However, this device has the drawback that the cross section of the kingpin only allows a limited number of supply lines and, what is more, the kingpin is affected in terms of its strength. Furthermore, there is a high risk of contamination, especially due to lubricating grease and the solids adhering to it, and an increase in the structural height due to the plug being led out below or above the kingpin.
One prior art of this kind is disclosed by DE 101 55 056 A1, whose plug-in coupling system has a wedge-shaped support element with a plug, which is mounted on the kingpin of the trailer so that it can swivel, and located in the entry opening of the fifth wheel when the trailer is coupled up. Then, an actuator with a plug arranged on it extends out from a side wall of the entry opening and makes contact with the plug of the support element. However, this system is arranged in a region of the fifth wheel which already accommodates a number of other structural components, especially the mechanical locking. Therefore, it is only possible to accommodate a small number of contacts in the coupling system, so that, for example, the pressurized air lines still have to be hooked up by hand.

Coupling system for connecting supply lines


A tool for chip removing machining, including a basic body, and a cutting insert fixed in an insert seat in the basic body by a tightening element, and which, via at least one shoulder surface, is held pressed against a stop surface in the insert seat. An elastically deformable spring is arranged in the insert seat, which provides, by elastic deformation as a result of tightening of the tightening element, the pressing of the shoulder surface against the stop surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,061 discloses a cutting tool in the form of a turning tool, the turning or cutting insert of which is detachably connected to a basic body via a partly resilient (deflectable) tightening screw. In connecting surfaces included in an interface between the cutting insert and the basic body, a number of engagement structures are arranged, which in a mounted state engage each other in order to secure the cutting insert in a predetermined position. The engagement structures are arranged in such a way that a certain displacement of the cutting insert is allowed before the tightening screw is finally tightened. The screw hole in the basic body is eccentrically arranged in relation to the hole in the cutting insert in order to apply a certain bias force to the cutting insert in connection with the tightening of the screw. As a consequence of the eccentricity between the holes in combination with a certain thread play and the elasticity of the screw, the screw affects the cutting insert by two tightening forces acting in different directions, viz., on one hand, a bias force, which acts rectilinearly along the connecting surface of the basic body, and on the other hand a tightening force, which acts straight down into the basic body. By the bias force, the cutting insert is displaced in the direction from a front end of the insert seat until the cutting insert abuts by transverse flank or shoulder surfaces against a pair of rear flank surfaces, which function as stop surfaces. When the cutting insert approaches the final position thereof, the holes are still eccentric, which means that the screw shank upon continued tightening will be somewhat deflected. In such a way, it is ensured that the cutting insert maintains contact with the stop surfaces. However, a problem with this tool is that the screw risks becoming worn out because of, among other things, the biasing of the screw, which may result in a deteriorated clamping of the cutting insert. Another disadvantage with the bias is that the tightening force is not brought straight down into the cutting insert, which results in the tightening force being considerably reduced. Furthermore, in practice the screw lacks capacity to secure the cutting insert in a position in which the active cutting edge of the cutting insert can reliably retain an exact space position in relation to the basic body, since the screw, on one hand, via the male thread thereof, has a certain play in relation to the female thread in the basic body, and on the other hand can be deflected away by the cutting forces.
The present invention aims at managing the above-mentioned problems, and at providing an improved cutting tool. Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a tool having improved clamping, more precisely by eliminating the need to position the cutting insert in the correct end position directly by the proper tightening screw.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tool that not only locates the cutting insert in the desired way initially in connection with mounting, but also can retain the stable fixation of the cutting insert under the severe stresses encountered by the cutting insert during the chip removing machining.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tool having a tightening screw that applies a large, unidirected tightening force to the cutting insert, and has a long service life by not needing to be deflected upon the tightening.

Tool for chip removing machining and a basic body therefor


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates determining server configurations based on an execution profile of an application. During operation, the system analyzes the application to develop an execution profile that specifies the number of times each primitive operation is executed. Next, the system estimates the amount of resources used by the application based on the number of times each primitive operation is executed. Finally, the system determines a server configuration based on the estimated amount of resources used by the application.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to servers and computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus that facilitates determining a server configuration based on an execution profile of an application.
2. Related Art
The recent explosive growth of electronic commerce has led to a proliferation of web sites on the Internet selling products as diverse as toys, books and automobiles, and providing services, such as insurance and stock trading. Millions of consumers are presently surfing through web sites in order to gather information, to make purchases, or purely for entertainment.
The increasing traffic on the Internet often places a tremendous load on the servers that host web sites. Some popular web sites receive over a million "hits" per day. In order to process this much traffic without subjecting web surfers to annoying delays in retrieving web pages, it is necessary to distribute or load balance the traffic between multiple server nodes, so that the multiple server nodes can operate in parallel to process the traffic. In addition, it is extremely important to correctly size each server node to handle the traffic that it will encounter.
Server sizing is usually done by trial and error, if it is done at all. Currently, computer manufacturers publish sizing guides which are, at best, crude estimates based on various computers performing various workloads. Provided that the various vendors are comparing comparable computing device configurations and identical workloads, this model would work well for comparison purposes between vendors. However, currently there is no known tool to assist a customer to find the optimal server configuration for a given application. Typically, vendors try to sell servers which surpass the customers' needs to allow an adequate cushion, but this practice results in a higher overall cost to the customer.
Unanticipated demand over a short period of time can result in an unresponsive or non-functioning server. For example, an unexpected event, such as a news bulletin, might drive the traffic for a certain web application to levels well above average. Current sizing guides do not reveal how a server performs under an intense load for a fixed period of time, nor do they reveal the maximum load the server can handle before it becomes unresponsive. This information is essential in choosing the optimal server configuration for a given application.
What is needed is a method and an apparatus for properly sizing a server configuration based on characteristics of an application that will be running on the server configuration.

Method and apparatus for determining a server configuration based on an execution profile of an application


A system includes a driver circuit, a modulator circuit, and a reset circuit. The driver circuit drives a plurality of light emitting diodes via a switch. The switch is controlled by a first signal having a first frequency. The driver circuit controls brightness of the light emitting diodes based on a second signal including a plurality of pulses. The modulator circuit modulates the first signal using a direct sequence spread spectrum modulation. The direct sequence spread spectrum modulation uses a sequence generated based on the first signal. The reset circuit resets the modulator circuit at each of the plurality of pulses of the second signal. The modulator circuit repeats the sequence at each of the plurality of pulses of the second signal.

The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Light emitting diode (LED) based display systems are becoming increasingly popular due to many advantages LEDs offer over conventional display systems. For example, LEDs are more power efficient and durable than conventional light bulbs. As a result, LED-based display systems are fast becoming a preferred alternative to conventional display systems used in homes, businesses, and vehicles. Additionally, LED-based display systems such as signs and billboards are gaining popularity for similar reasons.

Eliminating flicker in LED-based display systems


Tubing such as clear plastic disposable tubing or glass tubing includes a photonic sensor formed in or placed within the tubing. The photonic sensors can take the form of photonic crystal sensors, distributed feedback laser sensors, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors, including photonic crystal enhanced SERS sensors. Detection arrangements for the sensors are described. The invention has many applications including tubing used in hospital care (e.g., urinary catheters, intravenous fluid delivery tubing, tubing used in dialysis, e.g. heparin lines or blood tubing sets), food manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, water quality monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

Biosensors, including optical biosensors, are generally known in the art and can take a variety of forms. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,875,434 and 7,148,964 disclose photonic crystal sensors, including sensors which are incorporated or mounted to multi-well plates and similar devices. Other patent documents disclosing photonic crystal sensors include U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,118,710, 7,094,595, and 6,990,259; U.S. published patent applications 2007/0009968; 2002/0127565; 2003/0059855; 2007/0009380; and 2003/0027327.
Distributed Feedback Laser Biosensors (DFBLB) are also known in the art, see published patent application US 2009/0179637.
A third type of biosensor known in the art is referred to as a Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy sensor (SERS) as well as SERS sensors including photonic crystal-enhanced Surface Enhanced Raman (PC-SERS) sensors, see the published patent application US 2010/0085566.
It is known in the art that biosensors can be integrated with microfluidic flow channels fabricated on a substrate that is separate from the biosensor substrate, or integrated (i.e. co-fabricated) with the biosensor as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,531,786 and 7,737,392 to B. T. Cunningham and C. J. Choi, and in the publication of C. J. Choi and B. T. Cunningham, "Single-step fabrication of photonic crystal biosensors with polymer microfluidic channels by a replica molding process," Lab-On-A-Chip, Vol. 6, p. 1373-1380, 2006. Such devices generally have a flow cross sectional area that is too small for carrying large volumes of fluid, and thus are not suitable for in-line use for applications that require substantially large volume flow rates.
Additional prior art of interest includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,690, 7,314,751, and US patent application publication 2009/0051913.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Photonic biosensors incorporated into tubing, methods of manufacture and instruments for analyzing the biosensors

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


When a rotating shaft is at a standstill, a first sealing lip of a first sealing element comes elastically into contact with the shaft, thereby preventing a fluid leakage. Annular grooves are formed on the inner peripheral surface of a second sealing lip of a second sealing element so that a wide contact surface pressure can be obtained between each two adjacent grooves. Accordingly, a fluid leaked from the first sealing element is prevented from leaking to the low-pressure side by means of the second sealing lip. When the rotating shaft is rotating, moreover, the fluid from a fluid chamber is allowed to permeate the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the first sealing lip. Thus, the inner peripheral surface of the first sealing lip is lubricated by means of the fluid, so that the first sealing lip can be prevented from wearing or heating.

The present invention relates to a seal for rotating shaft adapted for use in, for example, a compressor for a car air conditioner.
In general, a sealing fluid used in a compressor for a car air conditioner include a refrigerant (gas or oil) and refrigerator oil, which are kept at a predetermined pressure. The sealing fluid must be prevented from leaking without regard to the state, rotating or nonrotating, of the rotating shaft.
Conventionally, there is a rotating shaft seal which is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 4-157264. As shown in FIG. 1, this rotating shaft seal is mounted between a hole of a housing and a rotating shaft (not shown). It integrally comprises a first sealing element a formed of an elastic rubber material and a second sealing element b formed of a synthetic resin (e.g., fluoroplastic (PTFE). The first sealing element a includes a sealing lip portion d which is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft. The second sealing element b includes a sealing lip portion e which is located at the back of lip portion d and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft. These two sealing elements are needed because the second sealing element b alone cannot prevent a gas leakage (especially when the rotating shaft is at a standstill), although it can stop a liquid leakage.
Moreover, a plurality of annular grooves f are formed on that surface of the sealing lip portion e of the second sealing element b which is in contact with the rotating shaft, the grooves f extending along the circumference of the shaft. A high contact surface pressure is obtained in the regions defined between the grooves f, so that the sealing performance of the sealing lip portion e is improved.
Conventionally, however, the sealing lip portion d of the first sealing element a is in the form of a sharp edge finished by cutting. If the rotating shaft is rotated under pressure with the sealing lip portion (trim lip) d pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, therefore, the lip portion d exerts a great force of pressure on the shaft, that is, it produces a high sealing effect. Thus, good lubrication cannot be secured between the sealing lip portion and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft.
Accordingly, the first sealing element a is heated to high temperature, and cannot enjoy a long life. Also, the lubrication between the sealing lip portion e of the second sealing element b and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft is poor. Thus, the sealing lip portion e is liable to be worn out or heated to high temperature.


Host cell specific adenovirus vehicles are provided for transfecting target host cells. By providing for transcriptional initiating regulation dependent upon transcription factors that are only active in specific, limited cell types, virus replication will be restricted to the target cells. The modified adenovirus may be used as a vehicle for introducing new genetic capability, particularly associated with cytotoxicity for treating neoplasia.

The ability to change the genotype and phenotype of cells in vitro and in vivo has many applications. For studying physiologic processes, particularly with dedicated cells, there is substantial interest in being able to modify the phenotype to affect a particular process. By enhancing or depressing the amount of a member of the physiological pathway, by inhibiting the activity of a member of the pathway, by providing an allele or mutated analog of the naturally occurring member, one may be able to unravel the role of the various members in the pathway, the order in which the members participate, the presence of alternative pathways and the like. Also, one can use the cells for producing proteins.
Adenovirus does not require cell proliferation for efficient transduction of cells. Adenovirus modified by introduction of a transgene provides for transient expression of proteins. Adenovirus can be rendered incompetent by inactivating one or more essential genes and then be packaged in a helper cell line for use in transfection. Thus, adenovirus affords a convenient vehicle for modifying cellular traits or killing cells, as appropriate.
For many medical applications, there is an interest in being able to specifically modify target cells in vivo or ex vivo. The modification can be associated with random DNA integration, whereby a genetic capability is introduced that complements a genetic defect intracellularly, provides for secretion of a product from the modified cells, which is otherwise indetectably produced or not produced by the host, provide protection from disease, particularly viral disease, and the like. In many situations, in order to be effective, one must have a high efficiency of transfection of the target cells. This is particularly true for in vivo modification. In addition, one would wish to have a high specificity for the target cells, as compared to other cells that may be present ex vivo or in vivo.
Gene therapy involves the transfer of cloned genes to target cells. A variety of viral and non-viral vehicles have been developed to transfer these genes. Of the viruses, retroviruses, herpes virus, adeno-associated virus, Sindbis virus, poxvirus and adenoviruses have been used for gene transfer. These vehicles all have different properties. For example, retroviruses transduce genes in vitro with high efficiency by integrating the transduced gene into the chromosome following division of infected cells. Adeno-associated viruses can stabily integrate into and express transduced genes in both dividing and quiescent cells. In contrast, liposomes and adenovirus allow only transient gene expression, and transduce both dividing and quiescent target cells.
Of the viruses, adenoviruses are among the most easily produced and purified, whereas retroviruses are unstable, difficult to produce and impossible to purify. Both classes of virus transduce cells with high efficiency. Liposomes hold the promise of allowing repeat doses of genes for, unlike viruses, they are not immunogenetic. However, liposomes complexed with DNA are difficult to produce in commercial quantities, and are inefficient gene transfer vehicles, most often transducing fewer than one percent of target cells.
There are two major divisions of gene therapy protocols: in vivo and ex vivo. In vivo refers to administration of the therapeutic directly to the patient, usually by inhalation or injection, although oral administration has been suggested in some instances. Ex vivo gene therapy refers to the process of removing cells from a patient, for example in a biopsy, placing the cells into tissue culture, transferring genes to the cells in tissue culture, characterizing the newly genetically engineered cells, and finally returning the cells to the patient by intravenous infusion. Therapeutically, retroviruses are most often used for ex vivo transfer, whereas adenoviruses and liposomes are most often used for in vivo gene transfer.
In the treatment of cancer by replication defective adenoviruses, the host immune response limits the duration of repeat doses of the therapeutic at two levels. First, the adenovirus delivery vehicle itself is immunogenic. Second, late virus genes are frequently expressed in transduced cells, eliciting cellular immunity. Thus, the ability to repeatedly administer cytokines, tumor suppressor genes, ribozymes or suicide genes is limited by the transient nature of gene expression, and the immunogenicity of both the gene transfer vehicle and the viral gene products of the transfer vehicle.
The first case, the immunogenicity of the vector, is akin to the problem facing mouse monoclonal antibodies complexed with bacterial toxins that are directed against tumor-specific antigens. Use of these proteins as a therapeutic, popular a decade ago, failed due to the high doses required and ultimately, to immunogenicity. The same fate may befall replication defective adenoviruses, unless the efficacy can be improved to achieve clinical useful therapeutic endpoints before immunogenicity of a transfer vehicle limits repeat usage.
In the second case, steps have been taken to eliminate the unwanted transcription and expression of late adenovirus genes in transduced cells, with the resulting immunogenicity.
There is, therefore, substantial interest in being able to develop viral vectors which substantially reduce the present limitations and restrictions on the use of such vectors in vivo.

Tissue specific and tumor growth supperssion by adenovirus comprising prostate specific antigen


Electroactive polymers are provided which contain alternating phenyl rings and nitrogen atoms, and which contain both quinoid mer units and benzenoid mer units. The polymers are formed by poly(condensation) of N-phenylhydroxylamine or derivatives thereof under anhydrous conditions in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Methods for producing films, fibers and shaped articles of the polymers are provided as well.

The first known foray into the synthesis of poly(aromatic amines) dates back to 1834, when Runge oxidized aniline to an intractable green-black solid. The more severe the oxidation--typical oxidants included persulfate, dichromate, or chlorate compounds--the blacker the substance produced, and the less soluble the material was in concentrated acids. These compounds were tested as dyes, and by the 1870's the highly oxidized "Aniline Blacks" became the first members of the polyaniline family to gain industrial importance.
Researchers came to realize that the synthesized "polyaniline" (more appropriately, "polyanilines"exists in many different forms, depending upon the conditions of preparation. Some batches of an Aniline Black dye would undergo "green-ing" after a short time, while others retained their deep black color upon prolonged wear. Decades of research into the chemical structure of these dyes provided some insight into the phenomenon. The "ungreenable" Aniline Black--that is, the most highly oxidized Aniline Black--is chemically different insofar as a substantial number of chemically irreducible moieties are present in the polymer backbone, not convertible to the green form of the polyanilines, which consists of a linear indamine-type structure. Various idealized states of the polyanilines are depicted below: ##STR1## Emeraldine is blue in the basic form, but green in the acidic salt form. Perinigraniline is red in its pristine form, and is somewhat more bluish in its protonated form. The Aniline Black dyes obtained through severe oxidative polymerization of aniline are some combination of these idealized forms of polyaniline, including chemically irreducible moieties proposed as substituted phenazine rings. Willstatter and Moore demonstrated that through simple reduction-oxidation transformations these various oxidation states of the polyanilines are interconvertible ("Ungreenable" Aniline Black excepted). For example, leuco-Emeraldine can be oxidized to Emeraldine, and Emeraldine can be reduced to leuco-Emeraldine. Thus, the synthesis of any of these linear poly(phenyl amine) structures is a passport to the entire family of polyaniline polymers.
In 1985 it was reported that protonic acid doping of Emeraldine renders the material highly electrically conductive (A. G. MacDiarmid, J. -C. Chiang, W. Huang, B. D. Humphry, N. L. D. Somasiri, Mol. Cryst. Liq., Cryst. 125:309-318 (1985)). Emeraldine is prepared through a chemical or electrochemical polymerization of aniline under conditions similar to those used for Aniline Black. Cao et. al. (Y. Cao, A. Andreatta, A. J. Heeger, P. Smith, Polymer 30:2305 (1989)) determined optimum reaction conditions for the chemical synthesis as a function of a wide variety of synthetic parameters, including pH, relative concentrations of reactants, and polymerization time and temperature. Typically, the Emeraldine is prepared employing an aqueous suspension polymerization of aniline in a strongly acidic environment using strong chemical oxidants such as ammonium persulfate.
The poly(phenyl amines), and more specifically those polyanilines which are not highly over-oxidized, remain the most promising of conducting polymers, combining environmental stability, low cost of production, high conductivity, and a variety of chemically reversible oxidation and protonation states of different colors. Already batteries made from such materials are commercially available, as are blends for EMI shielding and anti-static applications.
Excepting F. Wudl's report of a multi-step synthetic preparation (Wudl et. al., Synthetic Metals 18:297 (1987)) which involves post-polymerization chemistry, the only reported polymerization route which yields a member of the family of polyanilines demonstrated to undergo reversible transformations of the various oxidized/reduced, protonated/de-protonated states has been through the oxidative polymerization of aniline in an aqueous acidic medium to form the material referred to as Emeraldine. Oxidation of the polymer occurs at a lower potential than that of the monomer, resulting in a tendency towards over-oxidation and a demonstrated propensity towards the formation of chemically irreducible units along the polymer backbone. It has been shown that exposure of Emeraldine to an aqueous acidic medium slowly degrades the properties of the material through side reactions (Y. Cao, A. Andreatta, A. J. Heeger, P. Smith, Polymer 30:2305 (1989))--hydrolysis of the quinoidal moieties which introduces oxygen into the polymer backbone has been demonstrated by several researchers (M. Angelopoulous, G. E. Asturias, S. P. Ermer, A. Ray, E. M. Scherr, A. G. MacDiarmid, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 160:151 (1988))--which lower solubility in selected solvents and lower molecular weight. Thus, the Emeraldine is degraded by its own polymerization environment. The method of preparing this form of polyaniline is also disadvantageous. Since the conductive emeraldine salt so formed is insoluble, the oxidative polymerization of aniline in an aqueous medium affords only a heterogeneous route, requiring post-polymerization work-up prior to processing. To limit degradation during the chemical synthesis of polyaniline, conversion is often sacrificed by using a deficiency of oxidant. Side products of the polymerization reaction include unreacted aniline monomer (in salt form) and residual salts from the spent oxidant, complicating the industrial production process. The present invention involves a polymerization strategy which requires no oxidant, and resolves many of the drawbacks to the synthesis of polyaniline-type polymers by providing a bulk, homogeneous, cleaner polymerization route to electroactive polymers.

N-phenylhydroxylamine polymer, method of preparation


The present disclosure provides systems and methods wherein power production can be achieved with combustion of a fuel utilizing flameless combustion. A fuel may be combusted in a combustor/turbine in a substantially flameless operation to produce a combustion product stream that can be expanded for power generation. After expansion, the output stream can be treated to generate a recycle CO2 stream into which an oxidant can be input. The recycle CO2 stream including the oxidant can be injected into the combustor/turbine to effect combustion in a substantially flameless state. Various control schemes can be implemented to automatically control the concentration of oxygen present in the recycle CO2 stream that is injected into the combustor/turbine in order to achieve and/or maintain substantially flameless combustion.

Utilization of CO2 (particularly in supercritical form) as a working fluid in power production has been shown to be a highly efficient method for power production. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,596,075 to Allam et al., the disclosure being incorporated herein by reference, which describes the use of a directly heated CO2 working fluid in a recuperated oxy-fuel Brayton cycle power generation system with virtually zero emission of any streams to the atmosphere. Nevertheless, such systems and methods require operation at significantly high pressures and temperatures that can impart significant stresses on the various pieces of equipment that are required for use. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for further systems and method for power production with improved efficiency that preferably can be operated under less stressful conditions.

Systems and methods for power generation with flameless combustion