Semiconductor devices formed on wafers are inspected using a master wafer. A subject wafer of a semiconductor design is provided. The subject wafer has dies wherein semiconductor devices of the semiconductor design are formed and at a stage of fabrication. A current layer of the subject wafer is scanned to obtain a scanned layer/image. A master wafer comprising individual wafer/layer maps is obtained. The scanned layer is compared with a corresponding layer map. Matching and non-matching defects are identified from repetitive defects within the corresponding layer map and defects within the scanned layer. The matching defects are reviewed to classify and or identify causality. The master wafer is then updated.

Semiconductor fabrication faces shrinking device dimensions and increasing process complexity. Devices of today are smaller and require more fabrication processes than devices of even a few years ago. Additionally, the shrinking dimensions require ever tighter tolerances for performance of the process employed in semiconductor fabrication. Semiconductor manufacturers generally recoup their manufacturing costs by selling their fabricated semiconductor devices. However, some semiconductor devices fail to meet operational requirements and are, therefore, unable to be sold. As a result, the manufacture does not recoup the manufacturing costs for the failed devices.
A critical statistic in semiconductor fabrication is yield, which is a percentage of devices fabricated that meet operational requirements. A goal of device fabrication process is to reach 100 percent yield, although this goal is not generally obtained. However, the closer to this goal and the higher the yield, the greater the profitability for manufacturer.
Semiconductor fabrication processes and the devices themselves are very sensitive to out of tolerance process conditions, mishandling, movement, temperature, humidity, and the like. As a result, defects in structures and layers present in semiconductor devices can occur. For example, inappropriate transferring of a boat containing wafers can result in defects formed on a number of devices located on those wafers.
Typical semiconductor devices can have relatively large numbers of defects present, such as 1,000 defects. However, fortunately, a large number of defects are not harmful, for example 880 out of the 1,000 defects. For example, hillock formations can occur in conductive layers within metallization layers and not substantially degrade device performance. But, other defects, such as unfilled trenches, are harmful, for example 20 out of the 1,000 defects, do degrade performance. Therefore, it is noted that classifying and identifying defects as harmful is important. Harmful defects can be analyzed and causing conditions identified. Corrections can then be made, such as altering process parameters and/or design layout, that mitigate occurrence of such defects in the future. However, properly classifying defects into harmful and harmless categories requires substantial time and expertise by trained personnel. This reduces the ability of semiconductor device manufactures to identify harmful defects and take proper corrective action to mitigate or prevent harmful defects from occurring in the future. As a result, yield values are unfortunately lowered.

Methods for detecting structure dependent process defects


A means and method for treating malaria, schistosomiasis, and cancer using a spiro or dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolane is described. The preferred 1,2,4-trioxolanes include a spiroadamantane group on one side of the trioxolane group, and a spirocyclohexyl on the other side of the trioxolane group. In comparison to artemisinin semisynthetic derivatives, the compounds of this invention are structurally simple, easy to synthesize, non-toxic, and potent against malarial parasites. The compounds of the invention unexpectedly provide a single-dose cure for malaria, as well as prophylactic activity against the same. The compounds are also active against schistosomiasis and cancer.

Malaria is an acute and often chronic infectious disease resulting from the presence of protozoan parasites within red blood cells. Caused by single-celled parasites of the genus Plasmodium, malaria is transmitted from person to person by the bite of female mosquitoes.
Although once prevalent in North America and other temperate regions of the world, today malaria occurs mostly in tropical and subtropic countries. Each year, between 400 million and 600 million people contract the disease, and 1.5 million to 2.7 million die of the disease.
Four species of Plasmodium protozoan parasites are generally responsible for malaria, including Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium ovale. Of the four, Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous, accounting for half of all clinical cases of malaria and 90% of deaths from the disease.
The transmission of malaria begins when a female mosquito bites a human already infected with the malaria parasite. When the infected mosquito bites another human, sporozoites in the mosquito's saliva are transferred into the blood, which then travel to the liver. In the liver, the sporozoites divide rapidly, then enter the bloodstream where they invade red blood cells. Inside these blood cells, the merozoites multiply rapidly until they cause the red blood cells to burst, releasing into the blood stream a new generation of merozoites that then infect other red blood cells.
The symptoms associated with malaria are generally associated with the bursting of the red blood cells. The destruction of the red blood cells spills wastes, toxin, and other debris into the blood. This in turn causes an intense fever that can leave the infected individual exhausted and bedridden. More severe symptoms associated with repeat infections and/or infection by Plasmodium falciparum include anemia, severe headaches, convulsions, delirium and, in some instances, death.
The treatment of malaria has been especially difficult due to the ability of malaria parasites to develop resistance to drugs. Quinine, an antimalarial compound that is extracted from the bark of the South American cinchona tree, is one of the oldest and most effective pharmaceuticals in existence. The downside to quinine is that it is short-acting, and fails to prevent disease relapses. Further, quinine is associated with side effects ranging from dizziness to deafness.
Chloroquine is a synthetic chemical similar to quinine. It became the drug of choice for malaria when it was developed in the 1940s due to its effectiveness, ease of manufacture, and general lack of side effects. However, in the last few decades, malaria parasites in many areas of the world have become resistant to chloroquine.
Mefloquine is another synthetic analog of quinine that has been used in the treatment of malaria. Malaria parasites have also developed resistance to mefloquine, however. Mefloquine is also associated with undesirable central nervous side effects in some patients, including hallucinations and vivid nightmares.
Antifolate drugs are effective against malaria parasites by inhibiting their reproduction. Although the parasites have also developed a resistance to antifolate drugs, the drugs can still be used effectively in combination with other types of antimalarials. The use of combination therapies in treating malaria has the drawbacks of being inconvenient and expensive, however.
More recent developments in the treatment of malaria have involved the use of the peroxide functional group, as exemplified by the drug artemisinin, which contains a unique 1,2,4-trioxane heterocyclic pharmacophore. The antimalarial action of artemisinin is thought to be due to its reaction with the iron in free heme molecules in the malaria parasite with the generation of free radicals leading to cellular destruction.
The discovery of artemisinin (qinghaosu), a naturally occurring endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone (Meshnick et al., 1996; Vroman et al. 1999; Dhingra et al., 2000) initiated a substantial effort to elucidate its molecular mechanism of action (Jefford, 1997; Cumming et al., 1997) and to identify novel antimalarial peroxides (Dong and Vennerstrom, 2001). Many synthetic 1,2,4-trioxanes, 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes, and other endoperoxides have been prepared.
Although the clinically useful semisynthetic artemisinin derivatives are rapid acting and potent antimalarial drugs, they have several disadvantages including recrudescence, neurotoxicity, (Wesche et al., 1994) and metabolic instability (White, 1994). A fair number of these compounds are quite active in vitro, but most suffer from low oral activity. (White, 1994; van Agtmael et al., 1999). Although many synthetic antimalarial 1,2,4-trioxanes have since been prepared (Cumming et al., 1996; Jefford, 1997), there exists a need in the art to identify new peroxide antimalarial agents, especially those which are easily synthesized, are devoid of neurotoxicity, and which possess improved pharmacokinetic properties, e.g. improved stability, oral absorption, etc.


A tri-laminate body panel stiffener includes two polymer layers with or without a backing. One of the layers is a compliant foam layer mounted against a substrate while the other layer is a rigid foam layer mounted against the compliant foam layer. In another aspect of the invention the laminate comprises a backing member having an expandable foam mounted thereto with two or more opposing edges of the laminate being of non-straight construction such as being wavy or saw tooth. A pattern of holes may be formed through the foam and backing layers.

The conventional practice to stiffen outer automotive body panels is with a sheet thermoset polymer placed on the inside of a panel and then heat cured in a paint oven. The conventional heat cured stiffener is applied as a wallpaper sheet type applique or as a sprayed on layer. The applique is provided in a single or double layer sheet. The main layer is a thermoset layer with or without a backing. Where a backing is used, the backing can be fiberglass cloth, metal screen, or foil. The spray on is a single polymer layer without a backing. The polymer layer is generally 0.020 to 0.100 inches thick.
In the automotive industry when the vehicle doors are painted during heat cure there is a problem with paint read through due to the heat curing of the outer metal body panel stiffener and the expansion and contraction of the metal outer panel during the paint bake cycle. It would be desirable if some techniques could be provided to eliminate or reduce the paint read through problem.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Described herein are melanocortin analogs having enhanced activity and transport.

Melanocortins are a group of small peptides that bind to a family of five known melanocortin receptors (MC1R through MC5R). Cone, Endocr. Rev. 27(7): 736-749 (2006). They are derived from a common precursor protein, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), which is expressed in the neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system, and in the pituitary gland. Voisey et al., Curr. Drug Targets 4(7): 586-597 (2003). The proteolytic cleavage of POMC results in α-, β- and γ-melanocortin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), in addition to several other biologically important peptides. Smith and Funder, Endocr. Rev. 9(1): 159-179 (1988).
Of the five known melanocortin receptors, MC3R and MC4R are thought to be expressed predominantly in the mammalian brain, with MC3R being most highly expressed in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, and MC4R being expressed in the thalamus, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. Cone, Nat. Neurosci. 8(5): 571-578 (2005). C1R is expressed mainly in the periphery where it is found, for example, on melanoma cells and melanocytes and immune cells. In the neuronal system, MC1R is present only on neurons in the periaqueductal grey matter of the midbrain, where it is believed to have a role in controlling pain. MC2R is predominantly expressed in the adrenal cortex, where it controls steroidogenesis. MC5R is found predominantly in peripheral tissues such as the secretory epithelia of many exocrine glands, where it affects secretory and trophic controls.
Melanocortin peptides were initially thought to have a physiological function primarily directed to the control of skin pigmentation. Hadley and Dorr, Peptides 27(4): 921-930 (2006). However, in the last 25 years, many additional biological activities have been attributed to the melanocortins. Melanocortin peptides that are either agonists (activators) or antagonists (inhibitors) have been shown to control many physiological processes, including pigmentation, feeding, overall metabolic rate/energy homeostasis, endocrine and exocrine gland secretion, inflammation, sodium excretion by the kidney, pain sensation, addictive behavior, and sexual drive. Cone, Nat. Neurosci. 8(5): 571-578 (2005); Cone, Endocr. Rev. 27(7): 736-749 (2006).
Melanocortin analogs have been synthesized for the potential regulation and treatment of many conditions, including weight regulation (e.g., obesity, anorexia, and cachexia), hormonal secretion, and hyposecretion of many exocrine glands (e.g., Sjogren's syndrome), immuno-relevant conditions, and sexual dysfunction. Cone, Nat. Neurosci. 8(5): 571-578 (2005); Cone, Endocr. Rev. 27(7): 736-749 (2006); Bazzani et al., Resuscitation 52(1): 109-115 (2002); and Bertonlini et al., Pharmacol. Res. 59(1): 13-47 (2009). However, in regulating these physiological effects, melanocortin analogs have also been shown to cause hypertension. Gruber et al., Hypertension 6: 468-474 (1984); Klein et al. Life Sciences 36: 769-775 (1985). Experimental studies have shown that administration of melanocortin analogs (peptides) increases arterial pressure and heart rate, and can produce cardiac arrhythmias. Gruber and Callahan, Am. J. Physiol. 257: R681-R694 (1989); and unpublished data.
The physiological regulatory effects of a melanocortin peptide are achieved through the melanocortin pharmacophore: His-Phe-Arg-Trp (SEQ ID NO: 1). This pharmacophore is the minimum set of amino acids necessary for melanocortin-regulated activity. Holder and Haskel-Luevano, Med. Res. Rev., 24(3): 325-356 (2004). In general, all melanocortin peptides share the same active core sequence: His-Phe-Arg-Trp, including melanotropin neuropeptides and adrenocorticotropin. The amino acids surrounding this core sequence in naturally occurring melanocortin peptides are believed to affect the relative affinity for a specific melanocortin receptor.
Various non-naturally occurring melanocortin analogs with enhanced affinity for melanocortin receptors have been synthesized. For example, Klemes et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 137(2): 722-728 (1986), synthesized the melanocortin analogs (Ac-Nle-Asp-His-Phe-Arg-Trp) (SEQ ID NO: 2) and (Ac-Nle-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp) (SEQ ID NO: 3). These modified analogs show increased potency for melanotropic activity. Many other melanocortin analogs have been identified. See Balse-Srinivasan et al. J. Med. Chem. 46(17): 3728-3733 (2003).
Further examples of melanocortin analogs that have been synthesized, having increased potency, include: Ac-Nle-cyclo-Asp-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 4) and Ac-Nle-cyclo-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 5); al-Obeidi et al., J. Med. Chem. 32(12): 2555-2561 (1989); Ac-Nle-cyclo-Asp-His-D-Nal-2′-Arg-Trp-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 6) and Ac-cyclo-Cys-Glu-His-D-Nal-2′-Arg-Trp-Gly-Cys-Pro-Pro-Lys-Asp (SEQ ID NO: 7); Balse-Srinivasan et al., J. Med. Chem., 46(17); 3728-3733 (2003); Ac-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-D-Trp-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 8); al-Obeidi et al., Peptide Res. 2(1): 140-146 (1989); and His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val (SEQ ID NO: 9); Cone, Neurosci. 8(5): 571-578 (2005); Teixido et al., Brain Res. Bull., 73: 103-107 (2007).
To date, there have been few, if any, attempts at structural modifications to reduce melanocortin peptide side effects or enhance melanocortin in vivo activity. Work on enhancing melanocortin activity has mainly been restricted to in vitro studies. However, sequentially improving a peptide-receptor interaction in an isolated system fails to examine the possibility that one is also improving an interaction with another unrelated receptor system. The basis for such an effect is found in the concept of "overlapping pharmacophores." Basic science has now shown numerous examples in which a natural or synthetic peptide with a (primary) pharmacophore for one receptor class also contains secondary pharmacophore(s) for a different receptor class that overlaps with the primary class. Agnes et al., Peptides 29(8): 1413-1423 (2008); Lee et al., Biopolymers 90(3): 433-438 (2008). When the secondary pharmacophore produces unwanted side effects, this may lead to the false conclusion that there are unacceptable consequences associated with the primary pharmacophore (i.e., a poor "therapeutic window"). Results herein show that a single structural derivatization can improve the activity of two overlapping pharmacophores: a D-Phe7 substitution in ACTH4-10 improves natriuresis (i.e., sodium excretion; a melanocortin 3 receptor mediated action), and enhances cardiovascular activity (an RFamide receptor dependent effect). Gruber et al., Hypertension 6(4): 468-474 (1984).
The existence of "pharmacophores within pharmacophores" is a statistical consequence of the numerous amino acid residue replacements that can be made within a pharmacophore sequence. "Conservative" amino acid substitutions, replacement of one amino acid residue with another of similar chemical properties, are historically based on the maintenance of secondary and tertiary protein structure and function. Vazquez et al., Arch. Biochem. & Biophys. 305(2): 448-453 (1993). Examples of this include lysine for arginine, or aspartic for glutamic acid: i.e., amino acids with similar side chains. However, there is now evidence for "conservative" amino acid substitutions that traverse traditional amino acid class boundaries but still maintain protein or peptide function.
For example, in addition to the traditional classes of naturally occurring amino acids, acidic, basic, neutral, and non-polar; there are cation, anion, and pi (π) classes. Cation-π interactions are an example of a peptide-receptor binding property that can be produced by the attraction between a variety of cationic side chains of different amino acids residues and the center of an aromatic ring. The ring center has a partial negative charge due to the pi orbitals of the surrounding carbon atoms. Ma and Dougherty, Chem. Rev. 97(5): 1303-1324 (1997). For example; while Arg, Lys, and His are basic amino acids; when considered as part of the cation pair (to a π residue), Gln and Asn can be added to this group. Further, while Tyr may be polar compared to non-polar Phe or Trp, all three of these amino acids can serve as the aromatic partner of a cation-π binding pair. Therefore, a major limitation in recognizing a potential pharmacophore (or pharmacophores) in a given peptide sequence is that many amino acids are members of several different classification groups. Depending on the particular binding property in a ligand-receptor interaction, there may be numerous conservative substitutions available for a particular amino acid residue. Thus, unless one knows the precise types of binding that a residue is participating in, conservative substitutions are uncertain.
Given the numerous conservative substitutions that are possible for many amino acid residues, there are statistical limitations in producing large numbers of truly unique peptide pharmacophores. One approach to estimating the total number of pharmacophores that are potentially possible is to use the mathematical formula first proposed by Gamow to deduce the triplet codon for amino acid residue coding in DNA, i.e., what length of DNA base pairs or "code" raised to the power of the number of different DNA bases, will allow for the coding of at least 20 different amino acids? Gamow et al. Advances in biological and medical physics 4: 23-68 (1956). Given that the average linear peptide pharmacophore (analogous to a DNA codon) is 3-4 residues in length, with 6 known classes of amino acids (analogous to DNA base classifications) there are theoretically about ˜700-4000 potential linear peptide pharmacophores. However, since many amino acids are members of more than one class, the number of unique pharmacophores is much less than theoretical calculations would predict.
The law of probability predicts that "synonymous pharmacophores" will naturally occur. Analogous to synonymous words, these different amino acid sequences can manifest very similar binding characteristics at a specific receptor, and thus produce similar biological activities. These pharmacophores may occur in isolation (a sequence variant of a known peptide pharmacophore), or within the sequence of a larger pharmacophore (i.e., producing an overlapping pharmacophore). These predictions can be verified by constructing conservative substitutions in many different pharmacophores (in particular with cation-π substitutions), and then searching for receptor proteins that bind these sequences.
For example, conservative substitutions in the melanocortin pharmacophore produce 64 peptides with potentially synonymous biological activity, and can bind to the same receptor as the classic melanocortin sequence. Masman, et al. Bioorganic Med. Chem. 14(22): 7604-7614 (2006); Masman, et al. Bioorganic Med. Chem. 16(8): 4347-4358 (2008).
An additional example is found in the RFamide class of peptides; peptides ending in an arginine (R)-phenylalanine (F) C-terminal sequence. This sequence is potentially a cation-π binding motif. Ma and Dougherty, Chem. Rev. 97(5): 1303-1324 (1997). That it is a cation-π binding motif is verified by showing that synonyms of the RF pharmacophore based on conservative cation or π amino acid substitutions have equivalent biological activity. Gaus, et al. Biol. Bull. 184: 322-329 (1993).
Because even small (e.g., di-peptide) pharmacophores can have many synonyms, larger pharmacophores may contain smaller known pharmacophores (or their synonyms) within their sequence. The potential for overlapping pharmacophores to be an unrecognized source of unanticipated side effects in drugs is underscored by the evidence for three unique pharmacophores within the melanocortin tetrapeptide sequence, i.e., melanocortin, RFamide, and δ-opioid. Lee et al., Biopolymers 90(3): 433-438 (2008).
Traditional scientific literature searching (e.g., searching scientific databases such as PubMed) fails to reveal many examples of pharmacophore conservative substitutions. One approach for finding these examples is to use an Internet search engine, and search for the actual substituted pharmacophore sequence. This approach uses the three or single letter amino acid designators to construct the pharmacophore, with the entire structure placed in quotations. Using this approach with conservative sequence variants of the melanocortin pharmacophore; e.g., His-Trp-Arg-Phe or His-Phe-Lys-Trp; revealed a binding protein in fungi that may be the phylogenetic precursor of the melanocortin receptor class. Masman et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. 14(22): 7604-7614 (2006). Using unique structural features, rather than total sequence homology, has become a recognized way to examine protein homology and phylogeny. Zhu et al., Cell. Mol. Life. Sci. 62(19-20): 2257-2269 (2005). Supporting evidence for a fungal melanocortin receptor precursor hypothesis is that the Lys-Pro-Val sequence, an "address" or enhancer sequence in the α-melanocortin structure, serves a similar function to enhance peptide-binding to the fungal protein. Masman et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. 16(8): 4347-4358 (2008).
An important aspect of "pharmacophores within pharmacophores" is the potential to specifically regulate their activity: i.e., specifically suppress or enhance one of an overlapping pair or group of pharmacophores. Previous studies have described the how to suppress the cardiovascular side effects of a C-terminal peptide pharmacophore, using a metabolically stable C-terminal extension, without adversely affecting the activity of the larger pharmacophore it overlapped with. WO 2011/026015. However, there are many different structural positions for peptide pharmacophores, e.g., at the C or N-terminus or deeper within the sequence of the peptide. While some pharmacophores give undesirable effects, others have therapeutic qualities. Selective regulation would be an extremely useful property in drug development.
While a reduction in a drug's side effects produces a relative increase in therapeutic activity; i.e., an increase in therapeutic index, stabilization of the C- and/or N-terminus can produce an absolute increase in therapeutic activity. For example, catabolism of ACTH (a 30-amino acid residue peptide) produces peptide fragments similar to ACTH4-10. Saez et al., J. Biol. Chem. 250(5): 1683-1689 (1975); Neidle and Kelly, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 233(1): 115-126 (1984). These data suggest that the C-terminal sequence of ACTH is very sensitive to enzymatic degradation, because 29 C-terminal residues are lost compared to only 4 N-terminal amino acids. Thus, recognizing where to place a metabolically stable terminal extension on a peptide is crucial in the maximal enhancement of overall molecule stability.

Melanocortin analogs having enhanced activity and transport


Due to ever-increasing waste production and ever-dwindling landfill space, alternatives to throwing away disposable diapers is needed. The present invention relates generally to a recycling process for reclaiming used paper and plastic materials. The process comprises a first step of shredding the used disposable diapers into small pieces, which facilitates the separation of the plastics from the pulp-like filler material. The shredded matter is then washed in a solution comprising water containing various ecologically-safe cleaning agents, as well as calcium chloride and salt to neutralize the acrelites in the pulp-like material. The shredded matter is then washed in a washer comprising a perforated cylindrical drum, which spins and forces the slurry through the perforations, while retaining the plastic material. The slurry-like material containing pulp is then dehydrated. The separate plastic and dehydrated pulp-like materials can then be sold for recycling.

Environmental issues have, in the past twenty years, evolved in importance. Environmental issues that were once sideline issues are now at the forefront of public thought and policy. Especially important are issues related to disposal of waste and the rapidly dwindling available landfill space. An ever-increasing population and the concomitant increase in consumer waste production, coupled with ever-dwindling landfill space, has fueled the search for alternatives to waste disposal methods.
One attractive way of reducing the amount of solid waste being disposed into the environment is the reclamation of reusable raw materials from disposable waste. Efforts to reclaim these raw materials have expanded recently to the point where they have become a profitable enterprise. The increased business incentive to recycle, and the public's perception that recycling works, and that it is not just a worthy cause but a necessary one, has driven the recycling industry to new heights.
The reclamation of single-use human waste collecting and/or absorbing products (disposable diapers) is one way of reducing the amount of solid waste being "dumped" into the environment. Disposable diapers currently take up approximately 2-3 percent of landfill volume. Moreover, human biological waste from disposable diapers is a potentially virulent contaminant of underwater aquifers and rivers. Awareness of the eventual health hazards and the increasing concern for the environment has generated a desire to do away with the accepted practice of using a diaper once and throwing it away.
In the past, before disposable diapers became popular, reusable cloth diapers were commonly used. Cloth diapers were washed and reused to ensure that the waste products ended up in a sewage treatment plant to substantially neutralize any harmful bio-organisms. However, the sheer numbers of diapers used during an infant's development made washing them a distasteful task. In addition, diaper covers or wraps used to fasten the diapers required washing. Also, the ends of cloth diapers were often affixed together with safety pins, which tend to be sharp and difficult to manipulate. Finally, cloth diapers were not as absorbent as disposable diapers which use special high-absorbent materials. The ease and convenience of disposable diapers has, therefore, become a more attractive alternative to cloth diapers. In fact, nearly 80-90% of all diapers currently used in America are disposable diapers.
The solution contemplated by the present invention provides the convenience of using disposable diapers with the environmental advantages of using reusable cloth diapers. Just as with bottles, cans, plastics and newspapers, curbside collection of soiled disposable diapers could be instituted to make the prospect of recycling such diapers minimally intrusive to consumers. However, the nature of the construction of disposable diapers makes their recycling problematic.
Disposable diapers are generally comprised of an absorbent pulp-like filler material made of wood or corn, with super-absorbent gel-like chemical beads called acrelites interspersed throughout. The pulp is held in place within the diaper by an outer plastic liner, and an inner plastic liner. Various adhesives are also used to join the plastics together. Plastic tabs are used to facilitate taping of the diaper onto the infant. The current difficulty in recycling soiled disposable diapers is that the diaper materials must be separated and cleaned before the raw materials can be utilized. Separation of the raw materials is required because only the separate raw materials can be sold and utilized properly. Unfortunately, means for efficiently separating the various materials which make up a disposable diaper are not well-known, and currently only a few attempts have been made to provide such technology.
Previously, methods for separating paper and plastic from disposable diapers have been based on generating enough heat to destroy the bonding of the adhesives which bind the plastic materials. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,244, a process and apparatus for separating plastic and absorbent materials from diapers is shown in which the adhesives joining the layers of plastic together are dissolved by raising the temperature of the adhesives in hot water. The hot water acts to dissolve the adhesives to allow the plastic and absorbent material to be separated.
The inherent problem in this method is that it requires a supply of hot water which in turn requires energy to produce. In the recycling industry, profit margins are relatively low and additional expenses for heating and maintaining hot water to successfully break down the adhesives can be a significant financial burden. Moreover, the separation of the two main diaper components is dependent on the complete liquidization of the joining adhesives. This liquidization will occur only at a certain temperature which then must be sustained while the adhesives are being washed away. Any residual adhesive will disadvantageously hinder the complete separation of plastic and absorbent material and/or may remain as an unwanted residue on the by-products. Consequently, there is a need for a more effective and cost-efficient means for reclaiming the primary components from soiled diapers and the like.
Another inherent difficultly in recycling the raw material components of a disposable diaper is that the diapers must be washed, cleaned, and then dehydrated so that the raw materials can be properly packaged and sold. Though the washing process has not presented much difficulty, very little technology previously has been developed to remove the excess water and moisture from the pulp-like material once it has been washed. Consequently, there is a need for an efficient and cost-effective method of removing water, and consequently the excess weight, from the pulp-like material.
Additionally, due to the relatively slim profit margins generated by a typical recycling enterprise, a cost effective means for the overall recycling process for disposable diapers must be provided.


A hazard mitigation system to detect intrusion by an object into a track zone at a train station platform. A structure is provided that includes a fixed foundation and a surface layer that is cushionably placed above the foundation, such that the structure is located in the track zone. At least one sensor is mounted between the surface layer and the foundation. This sensor senses the weight of the object upon the surface layer and provides a sensor signal representative of that weight. A control unit receives the sensor signal, processes it to determine whether the object represents a potential hazard, and, if so generates a warning signal. The sensor can particularly include a strain or pressure gage, or a fiber optic sensor. When a fiber optic sensor is employed, it can particularly include a fiber Bragg grating.

Object intrusion on to railway tracks at train station platforms is a major safety concern for governments, the railway and general transportation industries, communities, and common citizens. Many accidents happen around the world each year and many lives are lost in these accidents. Governments, local communities, and railway companies spend millions of dollars each year trying to improve safety at train station platforms, yet to the inventor's knowledge no solution to this need so far is regarded highly enough that it is widely accepted.
Methods such as laser beam scanning, ultrasonic wave reflection, video cameras, etc. have been used for detecting objects at railway track zones. However, none of these provide effective solutions. For example, a common shortcoming for all of these is that the sensitivity and accuracy are greatly reduced during bad weather conditions. In addition, effective video techniques require human observation at all times.
In this invention, the inventor proposes to use sensors (e.g., mechanical/electrical strain gauges, pressure gages, fiber optic fiber Bragg gratings, fiber optic interferometers, etc.) to detect objects that are at a railway track zone. With this approach, the presence of such an object triggers a warning signal that both train station authorities and the engineer of an approaching train can receive visually or via a telecommunications channel at a safe distance, and take appropriate action if the object is not out of the crossing within a safe period of time.

Hazard mitigation for railway track intrusions at train station platforms


A rotary punching apparatus includes: an upper rotation plate provided with punching member on which punching blade having a pattern of a specific shape is formed, and an upper jig which support elastically the punching member and forms a guide hole in the same shape as the pattern; an upper plate configured to enable the upper rotation plate to be rotated; a lower rotation plate including lower jig on which a punching hole in the same shape as the pattern is formed; and lower plate configured to enable the lower rotation plate to be rotated.

1. Field of the Invention
Example embodiments of the present invention relates in general to the field of a rotary punching apparatus, and more specifically to a rotary punching apparatus which can perform punching on a desired position without regard to the punching position on a sheet which becomes an object of punching and simultaneously enable a shape on the sheet to have the continuity and a uniformly punched surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a punching apparatus is an apparatus for punching a predetermined part such as pictures, cards, letter papers and the like (hereinafter referred to as "sheet") and can perform punching in a simple circular shape so as to keep papers and exhibit an aesthetic sense to the sheet by punching the sheet in various shapes such as flower patterns for decoration.
A conventional punching apparatus will be concretely explained with reference to FIG. 1, the conventional punching apparatus includes a punching member 101 provided with a punching blade having a pattern of a specific shape, an upper jig 111 having a guide hole 112 which the punching blade is penetrated, a lower jig 113 having a punching hole 114 which the punching blade is also penetrated, and a base 121 configured to support the lower jig 113. Further, since the punching is performed only when the punching blade 102 of the punching member 101, the guide hole 112 and the punching hole 114 are accurately aligned in a straight line, ends of the upper jig 111 and the lower jig 113 are formed in a form of "" in a body by a coupling part 115. Thus, a fixed aperture is formed between the upper jig 111 and the lower jig 113, and the aperture is constructed so as to insert a sheet to be punched into the aperture.
According to the operation of the conventional punching apparatus as described above, the sheet is punched in the same pattern as the punching blade 102 by inserting the sheet to be punched into the aperture between the upper jig 111 and the lower jig 113 and giving pressure to the punching member 101 downward.
However, when the sheet is inserted into the conventional punching apparatus as described above, the sheet cannot be inserted by passing through the coupling part 115. Accordingly, because the insertion of the sheet is limited by the coupling part 115, it has a problem that the punching position of the sheet is limited and punched to a boundary.
Further, it has a problem that a surface of the punched sheet is uneven, in case of punching the sheet by the punching blade and the punching hole, even though the upper jig and the lower jig are aligned by the coupling part.


A first communication device generates a beamforming training initiator packet for transmission in a wireless communication network. The beamforming training initiator packet indicates a start of a beamforming training session, and includes a plurality of fields that respectively and individually identify multiple second communication devices that are to process beamforming training packets transmitted by the first communication device during the beamforming training session. The first communication device transmits the beamforming training initiator packet, and then transmits a plurality of beamforming training packets during the beamforming training session.

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have evolved rapidly over the past decade, and development of WLAN standards such as the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 Standard family has improved single-user peak data throughput. For example, the IEEE 802.11b Standard specifies a single-user peak throughput of 11 megabits per second (Mbps), the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g Standards specify a single-user peak throughput of 54 Mbps, the IEEE 802.11n Standard specifies a single-user peak throughput of 600 Mbps, and the IEEE 802.11ac Standard specifies a single-user peak throughput in the gigabits per second (Gbps) range. The IEEE 802.11ax Standard, now under development, promises to provide even greater throughput, such as throughputs in the tens of Gbps range.
The IEEE 802.11a,b,g,n,ac,ax standards utilize 20 MHz channels between about 2 GHz and 6 GHz. The IEEE 802.11n Standard permits two 20 MHz channels to be bonded to form a 40 MHz channel, whereas the IEEE 802.11ac and ax standards allow up to eight 20 MHz channels to be bonded to form up to a 160 MHz channel.
The IEEE 802.11ad Standard utilizes 2.16 GHz channels between about 47 GHz and 70 GHz. The much wider channels in the IEEE 802.11ad Standard as compared to IEEE 802.11ax, for example, potentially provide higher date rates. Because of the higher frequencies in the IEEE 802.11ad Standard as compared to IEEE 802.11ax, for example, wireless signal attenuation is more pronounced, and thus beamforming technology is important for maintaining a suitable range.
The IEEE 802.11ay Standard, now under development, promises to improve upon the IEEE 802.11ad Standard.

Group addressing for beamforming training


Provided is a medical robot arm apparatus including a plurality of joint units configured to connect a plurality of links and implement at least 6 or more degrees of freedom in driving of a multi-link structure configured with the plurality of links, and a drive control unit configured to control driving of the joint units based on states of the joint units. A front edge unit attached to a front edge of the multi-link structure is at least one medical apparatus.

In recent years, in the medical field and the industrial field, robot apparatuses have been widely used in order to perform tasks faster with a high degree of accuracy. Commonly, a robot apparatus is a multi-link structure in which a plurality of links are connected with one another by joint units, and as rotary driving in the plurality of joint units is controlled, driving of the whole robot apparatus is controlled.
Here, position control and force control are known as control methods of the robot apparatus and each of the joint units. In position control, for example, a command value such as an angle is provided to an actuator of a joint unit, and driving of the joint unit is controlled according to the command value. Meanwhile, in force control, a target value of force applied to a task target by a whole robot apparatus is given, and driving of a joint unit (for example, torque generated by the joint unit) is controlled such that the force indicated by the target value is implemented.
Generally, most robot apparatuses are driven by position control since it is convenient to control and a system configuration is simple. However, position control is commonly called "hard control" since cannot easily deal with external force flexibly, and position control is not suitable for a robot apparatus performing a task (purpose of motion) while performing physical interaction (for example, physical interaction with a person) with various external worlds. Meanwhile, force control has a complicated system configuration, but can implement "soft control" of a power order, and thus force control is a control method suitable, particularly, for a robot apparatus performing physical interaction with a person and a control method having excellent usability.
For example, as a robot apparatus to which force control is applied, Patent Literature 1 discloses a robot apparatus that includes a movement mechanism configured with 2 wheels and an arm unit configured with a plurality of joint units, and performs control such that the wheels and the joint units are driven in a cooperative manner as a whole (performs whole body cooperative control).
Further, in force control, it is necessary to detect torque (including generated torque generated by a joint unit and external torque given from the outside to the joint unit) with a high degree of accuracy in each joint unit of a robot apparatus, and perform feedback control and/or feedforward control. For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses a torque sensor that includes a decoupling structure, and performs high-accuracy torque detection in which influence of vibration is reduced as much as possible.

Medical robot arm apparatus, medical robot arm control system, medical robot arm control method, and program


A connector comprises a housing and a cover housing. The housing has a recess formed for insertion of a FPC. The housing comprises a first contact, a second contact and a third contact. The first contact and the second contact includes a first arm, a second arm, and a horizontal leg. The third contact includes a fixing arm, an elastic arm opposing the fixing arm, and a connection leg connecting said fixing arm with said elastic arm. A cam is arranged between the elastic arm of the third contact and the bottom surface of the recess of the housing for locking at a tip of the elastic arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector to be connected to flexible, planar cables such as FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) or FFC (Flexible Flat Cable). Hereinafter in this specification, a flexible, planar cable will be generically referred to as a FPC. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a connector for FPC of ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) type, that hardly needs any force for insertion and removal of the FPC.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a connection between electronics modules or print substrates implemented in electronic equipment such as DVC (Digital Video Camera) and DSC (Digital Still Camera) or mobile information equipment represented by mobile phone and PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a FPC, a flexible and planar cable, has been adopted.
A connector for FPC to be implemented on the surface of a printed circuit board, i.e., a surface mounted connector for FPC, comprises an insulative housing having an insertion portion formed for the insertion of FPC, and a plurality of contacts attached side by side in a predetermined pitch to the housing. In order for contacting the FPC with these contacts, a covering housing that can open and close is provided in the insertion portion.
The connector for FPC to be mounted on the surface of a printed circuit board, in order to attain a higher density, is required to have a lower height (a reduction in profile). The contacts that are aligned in the surface mounted type connector for FPC are increasingly made with more pins in a finer pitch therebetween.
As such surface mounted type connector for FPC, a connector has been invented (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-329536) wherein a plurality of contacts that comprises a contact leg contacting the FPC, and a stabilizer leg corresponding to the contact leg is configured in a first contact group and a second contact group that align in parallel with each other.
The connector for FPC according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-329536 is provided with a cam that engages the stabilizer leg in the first contact group at an actuator (hereinafter referred to as a cover housing) that opens and closes, and a pressed portion that engages the stabilizer leg in the second contact group.
The cam that is formed around a pivot shaft of the cover housing is elastically deformed such that the stabilizer leg in the first contact group widens the interval between the corresponding contact legs when the pivot shaft rotates to move the cover housing from the closed position to the opening position.
On the other hand, the pressed portion is formed in such a way that the stabilizer leg in the second contact group receives a force that is in an opposing direction of the force given by the stabilizer leg in the first contact group to the cover housing when the pivot shaft rotates to move the cover housing from the closed position to the opened position.
When the cover housing is rotated to open the insertion portion of the FPC, the connector for FPC according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-329536, elastically deforms the stabilizer leg of the first contact group and widens an interval between the contact leg and the pressing portion of the FPC provided in the stabilizer leg. The literature also describes that the deformation of the cover housing can thus be prevented or controlled without damaging the ZIF action.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-329536 describes about the connector for FPC that the first contact group and the second contact group will not give the cover housing any force that causes adverse deformation under a state where the cover housing is closed.
As such surface mounted type connector for FPC, a connector has been invented (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-151660) that comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts installed in the housing, and the cover housing rotatably provided thereto.
The contact of the connector for FPC according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-151660 comprises a contact beam extending toward the insertion portion of the FPC and a pivot beam. The lower edge of the tip side of the pivot beam is formed with a notch to construct the pivot portion of the cover housing.
Furthermore, in the connector for FPC according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-151660, a through hole is formed corresponding to the pivot portion of each contact in the cover housing. The circumference of the through hole is described as an axial portion of which cross-section is approximately circular and engages the pivot portion. A protrusion for pressurization is provided between the adjacent axial portions to press the FPC toward a direction of the contact point of the contact.
In such configuration of the connector for FPC according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-151660, the cover housing is easily assembled to the housing, and at the same time, will not damage the contact point of the contact during assembly.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a connector 7 for FPC according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-329536. FIG. 14 in the present invention corresponds to FIG. 3 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-329536. In FIG. 14, a housing 70 includes an insertion portion 70A in which FPC 1 is inserted. A first contact leg 71A in the first contact 71 is pressed from the insertion portion 70A side into the housing 70. One end of the first contact leg 71A forms a lead portion extending from the housing 70 and solder jointed to a printed circuit board 9.
As shown in FIG. 14, the other end of the first contact leg 71A is inverted and branched in U-shape to form a first stabilizer leg 71B that extends to a side of insertion portion 70A. The tip of the first stabilizer leg 71B then engages a cam 73A that is formed in the circumference of the pivot shaft of the cover housing 73.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a connector 7 for FPC according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-329536. FIG. 15 in the present invention corresponds to FIG. 4 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-329536. In FIG. 15, the second contact 72 have a second contact leg 72A and a second stabilizer leg 72B disposed opposingly with each other, one end of the second contact leg 72A and one end of the second stabilizer leg 72B are connected to form a bifurcated contact.
As shown in FIG. 15, the second stabilizer leg 72B is pressed from an opposing side of the insertion portion 70A into the housing 70. The other end of the second stabilizer leg 72B is a free end that extends from the housing 70. The free end engages a pressed portion 73B that is formed in the circumference of the pivot shaft of the cover housing 73. One end of the second contact leg 72A extends from the housing 70 to form a lead portion that is solder jointed to a printed circuit board 9 (refer to FIG. 14)
The contacts aligned in the surface mounted type connector for FPC are increasingly made with more pins in a finer pitch therebetween. Accordingly, the contacts 71 and 72 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 are plate springs that are thin in plate thickness. In addition, the contacts aligned in the surface mounted type connector for FPC are reducing its height and having finer pitch therebetween. To cope with this development, a wall C between polar (in a shape of the teeth of comb) of the housing 70 that holds a fixed end of the second stabilizer leg 72B shown in FIG. 15, for example, is made thinner.
In FIG. 14, when the cover housing 73 is opened, a cam 73A formed in the circumference of the pivot shaft of the cover housing 73 to act as a eccentric cam rotates to dispose the end of the first stabilizer leg 71 B in an upper position. In brief, as shown in FIG. 14, upon rotation of cam 73A in the pivot shaft of the cover housing 73, an upward force R acts.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, an opposing force S acts when the first stabilizer leg 71 B tries to have its end portion return to its position. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 15, when the opposing force S acts, the pressed portion 73 B that is to be integrated with the pivot shaft of the cover housing 73 energizes a tip of the second stabilizer leg 72 B into a downward direction.
Upon opening the cover housing 73, the second stabilizer leg 72 B generates a bending moment in a counter clockwise direction with a lead portion (a lead portion to be an end of the second contact leg 72A) solder jointed to the printed circuit board 9 (refer to FIG. 14) as a supporting point.
As described above, because the wall C between electrodes of the housing that holds a fixed end of the second stabilizer 72B is thin, a stress acts upon a thin wall C between electrodes that have the second contact 72 pressed therein, therefore tending to cause a breakage problem.
Further reduction of the profile in the surface mounted connector for FPC results smaller sectional area of the cam 73B that is to form an eccentric cam. Additionally, as a contact provided with more pins is increasingly sought, it causes a longer pivot shaft that connects cam 73A in an axial direction.
It is feared that, in a process of opening the cover housing 73, such a long length of pivot shaft will be deformed at the center portion due to the opposing forces S on a number of the first stabilizer legs 71 B. Specifically, it is feared that the pivot shaft will have the center portion deformed by way of action of equally distributed load across the end of support beam. It is conceivable that the deformed center portion of the pivot shaft may cause difficulty in opening the cover housing 73.
It is desirable that a ZIF type connector for FPC has more pins in finer pitch with a reduced profile, and also is configured to ensure the opening and closing operation of the cover housing.
FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a connector for FPC 8 according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003–151660. The FIG. 16 of the present invention corresponds to FIG. 3 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-151660. In FIG. 16, the housing 80 have the insertion portion 80A in which the FPC 1 is inserted. Contact beam 81A and pivot beam 81B forming a terminal (hereinafter, referred to as a contact) 81 are pressed into the housing 80 from the opposing side of the insertion portion 80A. An end portion of the contact beam 81A forms a lead portion extending from the housing 80 and solder jointed to the printed circuit board (not shown).
FIG. 16 is a state diagram showing a cover housing 83 in an opened position. As shown in FIG. 16, a notch 811 is formed at a lower edge of the tip of the pivot beam 81B. A pivot portion 812 that rotatably supports a shaft 83A of the pivot shaft of the cover housing 83 forms a notch 811. A through hole 831 is provided around the shaft 83A.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a connector for FPC 8 according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003–151660. The FIG. 17 of the present invention corresponds to FIG. 4 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-151660. FIG. 17 is a state diagram showing a cover housing 83 in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 17, a pressure protrusion 832 formed at a bottom wall of the cover housing 83 presses FPC1.
In the connector 8 according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-151660, the opening size A of the through hole 831 to be formed in the cover housing 83 is made smaller than the size B in a height direction of the pivot portion 812 of the contact 81 in a way that the cover housing 83 will not come off from the pivot portion 812 of the contact housing 83 during opening and closing of the cover housing 83. As a result, the connector for FPC will be achieved with reliable connecting operation of the FPC
The contact that is aligned in the surface mounted type connector for FPC are increasingly made with more pins in a finer pitch therebetween. Accordingly, the contact 81 in FIGS. 16 and 17 are plate springs that are thin in plate thickness. In addition, the surface mounted type connector for FPC is reducing its height. The thickness of the housing 80 that holds a fixed end of the pivot beam 81B shown in FIG. 16, for example, is made thinner.
In the connector 8 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a plurality of contacts 81 is aligned in a line in the housing 80. In a state where the FPC 1 is inserted into the connector 8 and the cover housing 83 is closed, as a result of the contact beam 81A, a bending moment in a counter clock direction acts upon the pivot beam 81B of a cantilever beam.
The pivot beam 81B of a cantilever beam as in a shape shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, however, when the thickness of the plate is made thinner and the profile is reduced, cannot be a rigid arm having large geometrical moment of inertia that can counteract the aforementioned bending moment.
Stated differently, it cannot counter the concern that the pivot beam 81B of a cantilever beam undergoes uniformly distributed load of deflection in an upper direction. This may cause a problem of, for example, a contact failure between the FPC and the contact.
In a connector for FPC having contacts that has more pins in a finer pitch therebetween and with a low profile, it is desirable that the connector for FPC is configured to have a cover housing that can maintain reliable opening and closing position to avoid contact failure.
In view of these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for FPC having contact that has more pins in a finer pitch therebetween and with a low profile, and that is configured to ensure the opening and closing operation of the cover housing, and at the same time, to maintain its opening and closing position.

Flexible printed circuit board connector


A tape carrier semiconductor device has a resin sealed area not much larger than the size of the semiconductor chip, e.g. substantially not exceeding 2 mm to the outside. A device hole is not larger than an area formed by extending the outer periphery of the semiconductor chip to the outside by 0.3 mm and an epoxy resin of 500-1200 ps in viscosity is used for sealing the chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape carrier semiconductor device, and, more particularly, to a tape carrier semiconductor device of a smaller external size capable of higher density mounting of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, sealing resins for tape carrier semiconductor devices have been selected with priority being given to thinning the thickness of the resin applied to the semiconductor devices. With respect to the viscosity of the resin, liquid resins having a viscosity ranging from 100 to 150 cps are widely used with the device hole size usually equal to the chip size plus 0.6-1.0 mm, and the size of the resulting resin sealed area being about the chip size plus 4-5 mm.
A technique capable of controlling the size of the resin sealed area to a range of the chip size plus 1-2 mm has not yet been available.
The size of the resin sealed area is mostly left to natural phenomena, e.g., after pouring a sealing resin, the natural extension of the sealing resin is allowed until the natural extension stops.
Viscosity of liquid resins used heretofore is so low that the area covered by the sealing resin extends too widely and its size is difficult to control.
Even if the resin viscosity is raised, the sealed area cannot be controlled to a desired size of area, and/or LSI chips cannot be fully covered so that there is a reliability problem.
For the purpose of controlling the size of a resin sealed area, there is a method of printing a paste sealing resin on the tape. Though this method can control the resin sealed area at the side of the chip on which the paste sealing resin is printed, it is diffcult to control the extent of the sealing resin flowing to the opposite side of the chip through a gap between the LSI chip and the device mounting hole in the tape.


An electronically tunable filter (ETF) and systems comprising an ETF are disclosed herein. The ETF comprises: a first image rejection mixer; a second image rejection mixer; a first hybrid coupler, the first hybrid coupler being coupled to the first image rejection mixer; a second hybrid coupler, the second hybrid coupler being coupled to the second image rejection mixer; an internal filter coupled to the first hybrid coupler and the second hybrid coupler; a control port for receiving a control signal; a power splitter coupled to the control port, the first image rejection mixer, and the second image rejection mixer; a first port coupled to the first image rejection mixer; and a second port coupled to the first image rejection mixer.

Radio systems are required to operate over specific frequency bands, as such all radio frequency systems require means to limit the bandwidth of operation of the system both in the transmission mode and the reception mode. Two broad categories of radio frequency system are RADAR and Telecommunications systems.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.


A cartridge pin assembly in a track chain assembly includes a sleeve bearing having a flared end.

Earth moving, construction and mining equipment and the like are often used in rough, off-road terrain. These machines often employ an endless drive with track shoes attached to track chain assemblies that is better able to propel the machines in such environments over obstacles and uneven terrain, etc.
There can be a great deal of tension and loads on the track chain assembly. More specifically, the load exerted on the bushings and track pins of the track chain by the sprocket may cause these components, especially the bushing to become worn or fatigued. For example, high thrust loads may be exerted on the sleeve bearing that may cause an end of the sleeve bearing to mushroom or otherwise deform. Consequently, the space between the track link and an outer bushing of the track chain assembly might decrease over time, and the seal located in this space for holding lubricant near areas of friction may become damaged, allowing the lubricant to leak out. This may lead to wear problems and undesirable downtime for the machine while the track chain assembly is being maintained.
Prior designs for sleeve bearings are not directed to alleviate the aforementioned problems. For example, DE102017218159A1 discloses a sliding bearing that is preferably made from plastic or graphite and is meant to reduce friction. Therefore, it is not intended to take thrust loads or be used in a track chain assembly that is lubricated and sealed.
Accordingly, a track chain assembly that is lubricated and sealed while also being less prone to maintenance is desirable.


A flame-retardant polyester artificial hair filaments is provided which comprises: (A) 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polyester resin; (B) 10-30 parts by weight of a polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant; (C) 0.1-3 parts by weight of a chain extender; and (D) 0.5-3 parts by weight of sodium antimonate. The polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant (B) may be a flame retardant having a repeat unit of formula 1 and a weight-average molecular weight ranging from 80,000 to 150,000. The flame-retardant polyester artificial hair filaments can be prepared by: extruding a composition comprising a mixture of a polyester resin, a polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant, a chain extender and sodium antimonate to form a pellet; drying the pellet to a water content of 500 ppm or less; melt-spinning the dried pellet to prepare a undrawn yarn; drawing the undrawn yarn at a draw ratio of 2-5; and heat-treating the drawn yarn in a heat treatment device heated to a temperature of 150˜280° C.

Artificial hair that is used as filaments for wigs is required to have flame retardancy and heat resistance in addition to a clear color, natural gloss, lightweight, heat resistance, a soft touch feeling, flexibility, and the abilities to form and retain curls. As used herein, the term "flame retardancy" is defined as a self extinguishing property and the anti-dripping property of molten polymers. The term "heat resistance" refers to the property of hair to resist the temperature at which curls can be formed by a hair iron, without being shrunk or deformed by thermal stress. Heat resistance and flame retardancy are the most important properties required for artificial hair filaments that perform the function of human hair.
PVC filaments or modacrylic filaments have been used as filaments for wigs. These filaments have very excellent flame retardancy, but have the disadvantage of insufficient heat resistance because of their low softening temperature, and for this reason, the use thereof in applications requiring heat resistance is limited.
To overcome this disadvantage, polyester artificial hair based on a resin having a relatively high heat distortion temperature is used. Examples of the resin that is used for polyester artificial hair include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene terephthalate (PPT), polycyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate (PCT), polynaphthalene terephthalate (PEN), etc. These polyester resins have a relatively high heat resistance, but are flammable resins that are easily burned and have the property of dripping high-temperature molten polymer drops upon contact with flames. Thus, in order to use these resins as artificial hair, flame retardancy needs to be imparted to these resins. Artificial hair has a thickness of 40-100 denier (corresponding to 40-100 μm), which is thicker than that of filaments for clothes. Because artificial hair is connected to the scalp or hair of a person who wears a wig, a high degree of flame retardancy needs to be imparted to the artificial hair in order to protect the wig-wearing person from a burn upon contact with flames.
A number of technologies for imparting flame retardancy to flammable thermoplastic polyester resins to use the resins as artificial hair are known.
Polyester resins are flammable, easily catch fire and are rapidly burned while dripping high-temperature molten polymer drops.
An attempt was made to use a copolymer resin synthesized by adding phosphorus (P) atoms during a polyester preparation process, but it was difficult for phosphorus atoms to provide sufficient flame retardancy to the resin for use as artificial hair. For this reason, a number of artificial hairs containing a polymeric brominated flame retardant are known.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,759,429, 7,759,430, 8,211,542 and 8,211,542 disclose a flame retardant polyester artificial hair containing a brominated epoxy flame retardant. However, the brominated flame retardant used in these patents has a shortcoming in that it has artificial hair becomes heavy due to the high specific gravity of the flame retardant, and thus has poor wear feeling. In addition, there is a problem in that bromine gas harmful to workers is generated in a process of compounding the polyester resin with the brominated flame retardant and a high-temperature melt spinning process. Further, workers can also be exposed to bromine gas in a process of drawing or heat-treating undrawn yarns. In a wig making process, workers are exposed to the same harmful gas when forming curls at a temperature of 100˜130° C. for a long period of time. The biggest problem is that when the wig product is disposed of by incineration, large amounts of bromine compounds are discharged in a gaseous state to cause atmospheric pollution. For this reason, there is also a problem in that polymer fragments that are generated in a process of making frame-retardant polyester artificial hair are disposed of as waste without being recycled. Moreover, a wig made of polyester artificial hair containing the brominated flame retardant can be harmful to a person who wears it, because it is used in close contact with the scalp of the person. Thus, there is a need for new flame-retardant polyester artificial hair containing no brominated flame retardant. US Patent Publication No. 2012/0122843A discloses a thermoplastic polyester filaments containing a polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant. The polyester filaments disclosed in this US Patent Publication comprises, in addition to a polyester resin, a polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant that is a phosphonate-containing polymer, copolymer or oligomer. The polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant has a weight-average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 120,000. However, the technology disclosed in this patent publication has the following problems that make it very difficult to produce an artificial hair filaments having a thickness of about 40-80 denier.
Conventional processes for producing flame-retardant polyester artificial filaments include a process of compounding raw materials, a melt spinning process, a drawing process and a heat treatment process. In the melt spinning process, a plurality of molten filaments are discharged through a plate nozzle below a die mounted at the front end of an extruder to form a filaments. The barrel temperature of the extruder is 250˜280° C., and the temperature of the die and the nozzle portion is 280˜290° C. However, if the polyester filaments containing the polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant is used in a system for making polyester artificial hair containing a conventional brominated flame retardant, the following problems will arise.
The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant used is lower than that of the conventional brominated flame retardant by 40˜50° C., and the flow rate of the molten polymer at the temperature of the die and the nozzle is very high. Further, if the polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant is added in an amount of 10-30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyester resin, the polyester resin will contain a large amount of phosphorus (P) which reduces the melt viscosity of the polyester resin.
As a result, when phosphorus-based artificial hair having a thickness of 40-80 denier is to be produced, the discharge of the polymer from the lower portion of the nozzle in the melt spinning process will not be uniform, and the melt tension of the molten polymer will be reduced, making it impossible to wind undrawn yarns having a specific thickness. Further, filament breakage will occur during melt spinning, making it impossible to continuously prepare undrawn yarns, and a filaments obtained by drawing and heat-treating prepared drawn yarns will have low strength and elongation, and thus cannot be used as artificial hair.
The present inventor has developed a phosphorus-based flame retardant polyester filaments for artificial hair, which does not cause the above-described problems even when it contains the polymeric phosphorus-based flame retardant, and a method for preparing the filaments.

Phosphonate flame-retardant polyester artificial hair and method of preparing same


A method of making a food product from the wing of a bird comprising a middle section, a tip section and an end section involves cutting through a first joint to separate and remove the tip section. Skin extending between the middle section and the end section is cut along a cutline extending therebetween. The end section is also nicked on a side opposite to the side on which the skin has been cut. A cut is made through the area between the bones of the middle section to separate the middle section into two portions. The end section is bent with respect to the middle section about the joint therebetween so that the middle section and end section are generally aligned end to end with each other with the common joint therebetween. Finally, the two portions of the middle section are spread apart to provide a food product having the appearance of a cowboy wearing chaps.

The present invention relates generally to a method of making a food product from the wing of a bird as well as a food product produced thereby, and more particularly, to a food product comprising two sections of a bird wing arranged in an interesting manner.
Birds, such as poultry and fowl, are conventionally eviscerated, dressed, and sold either as a whole bird or as severed parts, i.e., breast, thighs, wings, etc. One of the parts which is sometimes separated and sold is the bird wing, which comprises a middle section, a tip section attached to one end of the middle section, and an end section attached to the other end of the middle section. FIG. 1 shows a typical bird wing 10 having a tip section 12, an end section 14, and a middle section 16. As is well known, bird wings are not as commercially valuable as other parts of birds, such as breasts, thighs, and legs, due to the relatively small amount of meat present in the wing, the size and centralized location of the bones and joints, and the high percentage of skin, bone and joints to meat.
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for innovative meat products, particularly meat products which require less time for preparation and which include little or no waste. There has also been an increasing demand for meat products which are boneless or relatively boneless, making such products easier to consume. Hence, products such as boneless chicken breasts, chicken tenders, etc., have enjoyed tremendous commercial success and have obtained enhanced popularity for the respective cuts from which they are prepared.
Until recently, bird wings have not been particularly amenable to such enhanced commercial processing and/or preparation methods for a variety of reasons primarily related to the relatively small amount of meat, the size and centralized location of the bones, etc. More recently, products such as "hot wings" have led to increased popularity of bird wings as an appetizer, snack food, etc.
The present invention comprises a method of cutting a bird wing into a unique food product having an interesting appearance. More particularly, the food product has the appearance of a stick figure cowboy having a pair of chaps on his legs. A food product made in accordance with the present invention should be helpful in spurring interest in the purchase, preparation and consumption of bird wings, particularly by young people.

Method of making a food product from the wing of a bird and food product made in accordance with the method


A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI671M’, characterized by its semi-upright to cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; relatively large pink and red bi-colored flowers; and tolerance to rain and low and high temperatures.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'USCALI671M'.
The new Calibrachoa is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp., identified as code number C67-1, not patented. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Jun. 28, 2002 from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since Jun. 28, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A poultry lacer device is disclosed for sewing closed a fowl such as a chicken or turkey in preparation for cooking. The poultry lacer device is comprised of a textured cord having an array of alternating cord protrusions and cord indentions with a sewing implement operable for penetrating the skin of a fowl affixed to one end of the textured cord and a gripping assembly connected to the other end of the textured cord that is operable for cinching and un-cinching of the textured cord around the carcass of a fowl.

Since ancient times, cooking certain items has presented challenges. Items that tend to break apart during the cooking process present one of those challenges, such as poultry that is baked in the oven. One solution for poultry pertains to using a truss.
To truss means to secure poultry into a compact shape. To truss poultry with string, a user generally uses the following procedure                take a piece of butcher's string about three times the length of the bird        place the bird on its back, with the tail end nearest to the user        slide the string underneath so that it is cradling the bird in the center of its back        gently pull the string up the sides, then around the wings of the bird        pull the strings towards the user, close to the breast of the bird, so that the wings are held against the body of the bird        cross the strings at the base of the breast of the bird        wrap each string around the end of a drumstick        tie the ends of the string together, cinching it tightly so that the legs cross        lift the bird so that the tail end is up and wrap the string around the tail        tie the string, pulling tightly so that the cavity is covered by the tail        place the bird on its back again        bring the string back to the front        tie the string off        the bird is now ready for the ovenAs can be seen by the above procedure, this is a complicated and time-consuming process.
One way that others have tried to solve this problem is by creating a series of straight skewer style metal pins that are placed from one side of the cavity through the skin of the fowl bridging across to the other side of the cavity and through the skin on that side. This is done multiple times with multiple skewers in parallel fashion to each other all the way down the cavity opening. Then, a string is woven back and forth around the back side of the pin and crisscrossing over the cavity to the other side of the same pin and down to the next and so on and so on until the entire cavity has been done in this way. As the user weaves the string the user pulls tight the cavity. The user ties off the string at the end and is finished. Once the fowl is cooked, the user removes the apparatus by cutting the string and locating all the pins and pulling them out one by one.
A second way others have tried to solve this problem is to use a large needle and string to sew the cavity closed.
A third way that has been tried is to create a length of spiraled stainless steel wire that is used like a screw. The user pokes through the skin using the point on the spiral device and weaves back and forth to capture both sides of the skin and twist the skin closed.
Known art related to a poultry lacer device includes the following.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,842,443, issued to Rice et al. on Jul. 8, 1958, discloses a poultry product in which the fowl can be compressed into a shape amenable to uniform packaging.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,515, issued to Volk on Dec. 3, 1963, discloses a retainer or yoke which engages the folded legs of dressed poultry in such a manner that they are prevented from separating from each other and from moving away from the body of the fowl and eliminates the necessity of having to sew up the bird after stuffing the same.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,002, issued to Maxon et al. on May 4, 1976, discloses a method of trussing a poultry carcass including folding the neck skin over the back of the carcass, placing the central part of a cord over the neck skin and passing the end portions of the cord over the wings, about the body, under the keel and back on the other side of the body, tieing the cord over the neck skin. A modified trussing method includes making a slit in the skin of the body of the carcass, tucking the end of the humerus section of the wing into this slot and, if desired, binding the wing section in position by placing a cord over the wing section, suitably over the body skin covering the end of this section.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,977, issued to Volk et al. on Oct. 12, 1981, discloses a poultry leg retainer formed of a single elongated piece of material that is limitedly resiliently deformable, has a central U-shaped portion adapted to fit in the creases of poultry hocks with extensions to substantially right angle bends with outwardly extending shoulders curving through substantially 90° in a plane inclined to the central portion and to the extensions with hooked legs depending from the shoulders to more positively grip and secure poultry legs to the carcass while admitting of bagging trussed fowl without puncture.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,880, issued to Volk on Jan. 26, 1993, discloses a method and apparatus for trussing a turkey carcass is provided wherein the skin of the carcass is slit on either side of the evisceration cavity, exposed hocks are pushed through each of the slits, the hocks are pulled toward each other until they are adjacent and a cap is applied over the hocks to hold them together. In this fashion, a portion of the skin of the carcass is used to hold and anchor the hocks downwardly against the carcass.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,241, issued to Volk on Jan. 10, 1995, discloses a poultry hock truss for use with a body of eviscerated poultry having hocks and comprising a unitary substantially coplanar thin plastic member. The plastic member includes an anchor element adapted for attachment to the body of eviscerated poultry. A pair of side portions extends upwardly and outwardly from the anchor element and terminate in inwardly curved upper ends. An upper transverse crosspiece joins the inwardly curved upper ends of the side portions and a tab portion depends approximately from the midpoint of the upper transverse crosspiece toward the anchor element. The upper transverse crosspiece, the tab portion, the side portions and the anchor element define a generally heart-shaped opening with first and second juxtaposed lobes. The lobes of the heart-shaped opening are formed to hold the hocks together in juxtaposition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,519, issued to Volk on Jan. 18, 1994, discloses a flat, relatively rigid truss is disclosed which is useful for retaining hocks of dressed chicken hocks, which are more flexible than dressed turkey hocks, for example. A lower crosspiece has outward extending hooks which lock into the kidney cavity of the carcass. Outward upward slanted sides are connected by curves to a top traverse crosspiece. The upper and lower edges of the top crosspiece diverge at the center to form an opening for attachment of tags for weight, price, inspection data, cooking instructions and the like. The lower and upper crosspieces and sides define an enlarged opening to receive the hocks and tail of the chicken. The hocks fit into the insides of the curves at the intersections on the sides and top cross piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,905, issued to Marchese on Oct. 6, 1998, discloses a kit for identifying a cooking process applied to poultry includes color coded elastic loops having a polyester and cotton fabric sleeve which is color coded and correlated with the process applied to the poultry.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,744, issued to Pritsker on Jan. 25, 2000, discloses a poultry retainer for retaining poultry has a strap for closing the rear opening of the poultry and a piercing member for piercing the skin and holding the skin over the front opening to close the front opening. The poultry retainer also includes a base having first and second pieces which are slidably connected together to provide an adjustable distance between the strap and piercing member for accommodating varying size poultry. Wing holders and a leg clip draw the wings and legs toward the body of the poultry to reduce drying of the wings and legs during cooking.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2005/0241116 A1, inventors Stewart et al. published on Nov. 3, 2005, discloses an adjustable bundling device is that aids in the cinching and un-cinching of one or more items, such as the wrapping of food items in preparation for cooking. A cavity element and a stop element are attached to opposing ends of a length of flexible textured cord. The cord can be pushed through the cavity to form a loop that can hold various items. The loop can be tightened and loosened by sliding the cord within the cavity. The texture of the cord interacts with protrusions in the cavity to lock the cord in place. The cavity acts a type of clench and the end stop prevents the cord from slipping all the way out of the cavity.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not utilize or disclose a poultry lacer having a textured cinching cord with a corresponding gripper for tightening that cord on one end and a sharp needle element on the other end.
Therefore, a need exists for a poultry lacer device with these attributes and functionalities. The poultry lacer device according to embodiments of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. It can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved poultry lacer device which can be used commercially. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills these objectives.
The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the art of which the inventors are aware and are tendered with a view toward discharging the inventors' acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the present invention. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventors' claimed invention.


A weatherable composition comprising an upper layer that comprises an aliphatic polyamide resin and an additive composition comprising an hindered amine light stabilizer and a hydroxyphenyl triazine or pyrimidine UV absorber; an intermediate layer that comprises a polymer system compatible with polymer in the upperlayer, and optionally, an additive composition comprising TiO2, dyes, pigments, and special effects additives; and a polymeric substrate, wherein the intermediate layer is disposed between and in intimate contact with the upper layer and the substrate. The composition finds utility in articles such as automotive parts.

There is substantial commercial interest in the use of multi-layer, weatherable polymeric materials in various product forms such as sheets, films, shaped products, thermoformed articles, packaging, and architectural products, as well as coatings. Many different plastics are used as the base layer, or substrate, in these products in order to take advantage of particular physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The upper layer, often referred to as the topcoat, often functions to protect the base layer or layers, for example to maintain gloss and shine. However, overtime, the upper layer is aesthetically undesirable to consumers due to scratches and wear. There remains a need for weatherable compositions, particularly upper coats, that provide protection to an underlying substrate.

Multi-layer, weatherable compositions and method of manufacture thereof


Discloses is a motor for an environmentally friendly vehicle. In particular, the motor includes a stator core including a first coating portion and a second coating portion. The first portion and the second coating portion are adjacent to each other, wound with a coil on an outside thereof and fixedly installed in a motor case and the first coating portion is thinner than the second coating portion. The motor also includes a rotor core configured to move between the first coating portion and the second coating portion depending upon a speed of the motor. A controller is configured to control an operation of an actuator to move the rotor between the first coating portion and the second coating portion to maximize the efficiency of the motor depending upon the speed of the motor.

(a) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a motor for an environment-friendly vehicle, and more particularly, to a technology associated with a motor for an environment-friendly vehicle that maximizes efficiency regardless of which driving state the vehicle is currently in (i.e., whether the vehicle is traveling at low speeds, medium speeds or high speeds).
(b) Background Art
Generally, a motor is mounted on environment-friendly vehicle (including an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a fuel battery vehicle, and the like) as a power source for providing a drive source to a vehicle. More specifically, an AC electric motor (AC motor) is used to provide this drive force. An AC motor typically includes a stator core 1 wound with a coil that is fixedly installed as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a rotor core 2 is installed in the stator core 1, and a shaft 3 extracting power that is integrally coupled to the rotor core 2. The stator core 1 is often formed by laminating a plurality of thin electrical steel sheets 1a in order to reduce hysteresis loss (iron loss), and insulation coating 1b is applied between the electrical steel sheets 1a for interlayer insulation of the electrical steel sheets 1a.
In most vehicles, the efficiency of the motor should be maximized at low and medium speeds during which time the frequency use of the motor is quite high. However, it is difficult to increase the motor's efficiency at both low and medium speeds due to the characteristics the currently offered motors.
In conventional motors, a method for increasing efficiency by minimizing the hysteresis loss (iron loss) is often adopted. Advantageously, the thickness of the electrical steel sheet 1a is smaller while the thickness of the insulation coating 1b is larger than conventional designs in order to minimize the hysteresis loss (iron loss) to provide high efficiency at medium and high speeds.
However, when the thickness of the insulation coating 1b is increased, the thickness of the electrical steel sheet 1a which is a pure core serving a movement passage of a magnetic flux is relatively decreased and as a result, output from the motor is decreased (i.e., efficiency is low) at low speeds. As a result, a current value must be increased in order to guarantee the same output at low speeds as medium and high speeds. Unfortunately, however, when the current value is increased, power loss (copper loss) occurs. In other words, in conventional motors, the hysteresis loss (iron loss) is minimized by increasing the thickness of the insulation coating 1b and thus efficiency is increased, and this structure shows high efficiency at medium/high speeds while has having a low efficiency at low speeds.
The thickness of the insulation coating 1b may be decreased in order to increase efficiency at low speeds, but in this case, as the hysteresis loss (iron loss) is increased, the efficiency of the motor overall decreases which is also not ideal. Furthermore, the current value may be increased in order to acquire the same output during low speeds as medium and high speeds, but power loss (copper loss) occurs as a result of this solution. Accordingly, in conventional motors, it is difficult to increase the efficiency at both low speeds and medium/high speeds. Thus, a motor that is able to bridge the gap between the two speed states is needed.
The description provided above as a related art of the present invention is just for helping understanding the background of the present invention and should not be construed as being included in the related art known by those skilled in the art.