One or more intravenous catheter assemblies are monitored to ensure compliance with required hygienic procedures and/or to ensure only persons who have properly sanitized their hands are allowed to attend to such catheter assemblies. Detecting electrodes incorporated as part of such catheter assemblies facilitate determination as to whether potential contamination may have occurred. The hygienic status of a health care worker attending to the catheter assembly, as possibly evidenced by detected use of a sanitizer, may be used to determine whether the catheter assembly is being subjected to contamination.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring health care workers' compliance with required hand hygiene practices when installing and/or utilizing a catheter assembly (intravenous venous catheter) associated with patients who may be adversely affected by non-sanitized health-care workers.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
The Center for Disease Control, advocates there are over 2 million preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occurring each year in U.S. Hospitals resulting in billions of dollars in additional healthcare costs. The primary source of the majority of deaths from these infections is Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLBSI's). CLBSI's are considered preventable by the CDC through proper hand hygiene and sanitary management of the intravenous catheter.
An intravenous catheter (also known as a central line catheter) is a catheter (tube) that doctors often place in a large vein in the neck, chest or groin to give medication or fluids or to collect blood for medical tests. Intravenous catheters may also be known as IV's that are frequently used to give medicine or fluids into a vein near the skins surface (usually on the arm or hand), for short periods of time. Central lines catheters are commonly used in intensive care units as intravenous catheters used to access a major vein that is close to the heart and can remain in place for weeks or months. All patient associated catheters to include but not limited to Intravenous catheters, Central line catheters, Indwelling catheters, IV lines, and PICC (Peripherally Inserted Catheter) lines are to be considered the same regarding the scope of this application. In addition, Folly catheters, medical drains and physiologic catheters to include intravenous lines for adding or removing bodily fluids are to be included in the intent of providing a means for monitoring hygiene and contact with patient catheters and are intended to fall within the scope of this art.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,882,278 describes another system that monitors compliance with recommended hand-washing practices. The system includes a hand-washing detector and an event detector such as a motion detector that detects an event such a person entering or leaving a room. A control unit determines whether a person has washed his hands within a predetermined time period before entering the room.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,727,818 and 6,975,231 disclose other systems for promoting hygienic practices. The first mentioned patent discloses a system that tracks the movements of health care workers throughout the facility and within a patient's room. The health care workers are provided with badges that transmit ID information to sensors located in the hallways and rooms of the facility, which in turn transmit location information to a master station. ID information is also transmitted to wash sink sensors to indicate whether the health care worker has washed his hands. If the health care worker enters a patient contact zone in the patient's room without having complied with the required hand washing procedure, an alert is provided by the health care worker's badge and/or other alerting devices located on the patient's bed or in the patient's room.
A time delay may be employed before a warning alert is provided so that an alert is not triggered by a health care worker who is only briefly in the patient contact zone. U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,231 discloses a system employing sets of detectors located just outside and within a patient's room. These detectors are actuated sequentially as a person enters the room and the time between their actuation is monitored in determining whether a person has entered the room. A determination is made as to whether the person has washed his hands within a predetermined period of time, and a warning signal is generated if the hands have not been washed within the set period.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,090,155 Lacey discloses the use of a camera to monitor the hands so as to determine hand washing activity but does not provide a means to address the issue of identifying whose hands are being monitored and their relationship to the patient.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2011/027740, 8,110,047 8,094,029, 20050248461, 8,085,155, 7,898,407, 7,855,651, 7,818,083 7,682,464, 7,605,704, 7,375,640 and 7,372,367 hygiene monitoring schemes all require the use of RFID badges. The application of RFID as the backbone of almost all currently available hygiene monitoring systems ignores the restrictive nature presented by this technology. RFID limitations become apparent when considering the absence of an RFID badge being carried by a caregiver, Health Care Worker or visitor allows the potential hygiene violator to then become invisible to the associated monitoring system. The use of radio waves opposed to digital imaging as a means of determining location and proximity, are subject to inconsistencies in ranging dependent on many outside variables, particularly in a RF "noisy" hostile hospital environment. Radiating in a fixed circular or elliptical pattern, the application of such radio waves or IR beams opposed to digital imaging for near proximity monitoring is extremely limited in resolving "the finite point of care", the actual probable contamination point between the HCW or visitor and the patient's medical devices.

Systems and methods for monitoring contact with patient's catheter assembly


A safety latch device for a paper cutter movably attached to the cutting arm of the paper cutter. The safety latch has a base catch, an arm catch and a trigger. The base catch engages with an extended portion of the base of the paper cutter to prevent a user from raising the cutting arm. The arm catch engages with a top surface of the cutting arm to prevent the safety latch from interfering with the cutting arm during operation. The trigger allows the user to disengage the base catch from the extended portion of the base so the cutting arm can be lifted.

This invention relates to a safety device latch for a paper cutter.
The problem with prior art locking devices for paper cutters is that they are not automatic, and require the user to make additional movements to lock or unlock. This decreases the efficiency of operation of the paper cutter. In addition, these locking devices require extra parts to engage with the locking device. This increases the time and labor required to assemble the paper cutter.
The present invention is directed to a safety latch for a standard paper cutter. It has few parts for easy assembly and lower cost. The present invention contains an automatic lock and trigger release and is easy to use.


A data acquisition, data display, vehicle computer interface and programming tool in the form of a module. The module of the present invention can be set into a dock, which is connected to the vehicle's control modules. The vehicle can be reprogrammed to accept vehicle manufacture's updates and/or performance updates. Once the reprogramming is finished the module is removed from the dock and is be placed into/onto the vehicle's dashboard or other location readily viewable by the vehicle operator to report one or more of the vehicle's operating parameters. The present invention is readily connectable to a vehicle's data link for bi-directional communication with the various control modules on the vehicle.

Modern vehicles are generally equipped with numerous sensors, such as, for example, oil pressure, coolant temperature, transmission temperature, engine temperature, steering position, air/fuel ratio, etc. Typically, the sensors are connected to an on-board computer control module that continually monitors the sensors and regulates the vehicles functions accordingly. Generally the information generated by the sensor is continually passed along the vehicle data link as part of the vehicle diagnostic system. The vehicle diagnostic system cooperates with the factory installed gauge cluster to provide the vehicle operator with information regarding various components of the vehicle. The vehicle diagnostic system typically includes one or more separate computer control modules. Examples of such computer control modules (also known as just "modules") are: a power train control module (PCM), an engine control module (ECM), a transmission control module (TCM), an anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module, and an air bag control module. Typically the computer control modules are connected together by a data link, forming the vehicle diagnostic system. The data link typically has a connection point, or data link connector (DLC) that is normally located under the dash of the vehicle. The vehicle diagnostic system is generally used to provide relevant information to repair technicians. The DLC provides a place to connect off-board vehicle gauges and diagnostic devices, such as scan tools and code readers, for communication with the vehicle diagnostic system.
In addition to downloading the information regarding the operation or performance of various vehicle components, the data link connectors can also be used to upload information to the various vehicle control modules. The operating parameters and/or software of the various vehicle control modules can be changed or updated. This operation is commonly referred to as "flashing" the control module. The control modules can be flashed to upgrade the performance of the vehicle, to reduce powertrain emissions, fix drivability issues, or to compensate for wear of certain components, such as engine components.

Vehicle tuner and display module and docking station


The present invention provides an antibody targeted to interleukin 17A (IL-17A), preparation method and the use thereof. In particular, the invention provides a novel anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody. The antibody of the present invention is capable of binding IL-17A antigen with high specificity, has high affinity and low immunogenicity, and is used for preparing a medicament for preventing or treating an IL-17A-related disease such as various inflammatory or autoimmune diseases.

So far, 6 members from IL-17 family have been found: IL-17A (IL-17), IL-17B, IL-17C, IL-17D, IL-17E(IL-25) and IL-17F. The interleukins-17 cytokines can bind to the corresponding receptors and mediate different inflammatory responses.
IL-17A was originally discovered to be secreted by activated CD4+T cell. This type of T cell subset that characteristically secretes IL-17A is called Th17 cells. In addition to Th17 cells, cytotoxicity CD8+T cell (Tc17), γδT cell, natural killer T cell (NKT-17) and B cells can also express IL-17A under specific conditions. Innate immune cells, including monocytes, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and lymphoid tissue-induced inducer (Lti-like) cells, can also produce IL-17A. Recently, in a study on trypanosome infection, it was found that B cells can also produce IL-17A. Some non-immune cells, such as intestinal Paneth cells and intestinal epithelial cells, can also produce IL-17A under stress. Since the Th17 cells are the most widely distributed in the body and has a wide range of effects in the inflammatory response, it is generally considered to be the main source of IL-17A. The innate cells that produce IL-17A are mainly involved in the host anti-infective immune response as early defense cells of the body.
IL-17A is a homodimer composed of two strands of 155 amino acids linked by a disulfide bond and has a molecular weight of 35 kDa. The structure of IL-17 consists of a 23 amino acid signal peptide (AA) and a 123 amino acid chain region.
The type I cell surface receptor that binds to IL-17 is called IL-17R, and there are at least three of them: IL-17RA, IL-17RB and IL-17RC. IL-17A and IL-17F bind to IL-17RA and IL-17RC receptor complexes in the form of homodimers or heterodimers to transduce signals and participate in autoimmune disease, various inflammatory responses, and host anti-infective immune response. IL-17C binds IL-17RA and IL-17RE receptor complexes to activate downstream signals and promote anti-infective immunity, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory responses. IL-17B was found to bind to IL-17RB, but its downstream signals remain unclear. IL-17RB also forms a receptor complex with IL-17RA to mediate IL-17E-induced type II immune responses. Il-17E was also reported to promote apoptosis in tumor cells. The receptor and downstream signals of IL-17D and the ligand and downstream signals of the orphan receptor IL-17RD are still unclear.
IL-17A mainly induces signal activation of non-hematopoietic-derived cells including epithelial cells and stromal cells. A variety of inflammatory factors and chemokines induced by IL-17A can promote the recruitment of various immune cells, thereby promoting autoimmune diseases. Studies have found that IL-17A and IL-17F, and their major secretory T cell subpopulations, Th17 cells, also play important roles in a variety of autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and type 1 diabetes (T1D).
IL-17A and IL-17F exert their functions of promoting inflammatory response mainly by inducing target cells to express various inflammatory factors and chemokines. IL-17A binds to the cell surface receptor IL-17RA and recruits IL-17RC to form a heterodimer that mediates downstream signaling pathways. IL-17 binds to its receptor and activates TRAF6 (TNF-receptor associated factor 6). IL-17 shares the same transcriptional pathway as IL-1 and TNF, which activates NF-kB and three MAP (mitogen-activated protein) enzymes, including ERK1, ERK2, JNK, p38. The pathways are found in both synoviocytes and chondrocytes.
Therefore, in view of the role and function of IL-17A in various related diseases, there remains a need in the art to develop improved anti-IL-17 specific antibodies suitable for treating patients.

Antibody targeting interleukin 17A and preparation method and application thereof


A method for improving an image quality of X-ray tomograms includes generating a low-pass filtered X-ray tomogram by applying a low-pass filter to a two-dimensional X-ray tomogram. The low-pass filter is only applied to pixels with image values lying within a predetermined image value interval. A high-pass filtered X-ray tomogram is generated by subtracting the low-pass filtered X-ray tomogram from the two-dimensional X-ray tomogram. A Radon transform image is generated by calculating a Radon transform of the high-pass filtered X-ray tomogram. A modified Radon transform image is generated by modifying values of the pixels of the Radon transform image with values lying outside a predetermined value interval. A modified high-pass filtered X-ray tomogram is generated by calculating an inverse Radon transform of the modified Radon transform image. A modified X-ray tomogram is generated by the addition of the modified high-pass filtered X-ray tomogram to the low-pass filtered X-ray tomogram.

The present embodiments relate to improving an image quality of X-ray tomograms.
For a particularly detailed examination of an examination object (e.g., a patient and/or a workpiece and/or an examination phantom), frequently one or more two-dimensional projection images (e.g., X-ray projection images) are taken by an X-ray unit. Herein, a plurality of two-dimensional X-ray projection images, for example, may be recorded with different angulations to one another (e.g., projection angles) around a predetermined spatial axis. This may enable a three-dimensional reconstruction of a slice of the examination object. Herein, a two-dimensional X-ray tomogram may be generated by a suitable transform (e.g., an inverse Radon transform) of the plurality of two-dimensional projection images. The generation of such an X-ray tomogram may, for example, be enabled by a C-arm X-ray unit and/or a cone beam computed tomography system (cone beam CT) and/or a fan beam computed tomography system (fan beam CT) and/or an X-ray unit (e.g., a medical X-ray unit) including an X-ray source that is movable relative to the examination object and/or a detector that is movable relative to the examination object.
It is known from the prior art that streak artifacts (e.g., on the recording of two-dimensional X-ray tomograms) may occur. These streak artifacts frequently occur due to objects (e.g., radiopaque objects) inside and/or outside the examination object, which are arranged in the beam path between an X-ray source and an X-ray detector during the recording of the two-dimensional X-ray tomogram. Such objects may, for example, be catheters and/or cables and/or parts of a patient table and/or implants inside the examination object.
On the generation of an X-ray tomogram from a plurality of two-dimensional projection images with different projection angles, it may be the case, that, due to limited measuring times, not all projection regions (e.g., circular-segment-shaped projection regions) are completely covered. This may also result in the occurrence in streak artifacts in the X-ray tomogram.
Further, a movement of the examination object during the recording of the two-dimensional X-ray tomogram (e.g., over a lengthy period) may result in streak artifacts.
In addition, streak artifacts in the two-dimensional X-ray tomogram may be caused by arcing of the X-ray tube (e.g., the X-ray source). This may, for example, result in underexposure of individual two-dimensional projection images, which may be used to generate the two-dimensional X-ray tomogram.
Streak artifacts (e.g., in different manifestations) may be conducive to misdiagnosis and/or mask low-contrast details of the examination object.
The methods known from prior art have the disadvantage that it is frequently not possible to correct streak artifacts (e.g., isolated occurrences of streak artifacts) in two-dimensional X-ray tomograms retrospectively.

Method for improving the image quality of x-ray tomograms


A sound-pressure analyzer in a high-intensity acoustic field that can accurately presume the cavitation-threshold and cavitation-amount being generated comprises: a hydrophone for transferring a voltage-signal corresponding to said sound-pressure in said acoustic field; a frequency-analyzer; and an arithmetic device. The frequency-analyzer analyzes the frequency-component in such an acoustic field based on the voltage-signal being transferred from the hydrophone and then sorts such signal into a basic-frequency component, a harmonic component, a sub-harmonic component and a white-noise component. An arithmetic device conducts arithmetic operations to evaluate the average of broadband sound pressure (ABP) of the white-noise component within a frequency-range having practical sensitivity, thus presuming the presence of the cavitation-threshold and the cavitation-amount being generated at a point wherein the ABP increases from about zero and wherein such cavitation-amount being generated is according to the level of the ABP value.

As a piece of equipment, using ultrasonic waves, for example, an ultrasonic cleaner is conventionally well known. Generally, an ultrasonic cleaner has a structure of which an ultrasonic transducer is provided at the bottom part of a processing tank that reserves a cleaning liquid. When such an ultrasonic transducer irradiates ultrasonic waves into the cleaning liquid, an acoustic field is formed in such cleaning liquid causing the cleaning of a cleaning target. It is known that such ultrasonic waves generated by such an ultrasonic transducer are reflected onto the water surface so as to generate a standing wave. Also, it is known that if a strong ultrasonic wave within a specified frequency is irradiated into such a cleaning liquid, a high-intensity acoustic field is formed and depressurization and pressurization occur alternatively, thus making air bubbles under such depressurization in such cleaning liquid, which is called "cavitation."
Cavitation is likely to occur insomuch by a low-frequency ultrasonic wave, and a comparatively low level of ultrasonic energy can make cavitation occur. Thus, an ultrasonic cleaner of a low-to-medium frequency can efficiently clean a comparatively large area of dirt and of tough-greasy dirt by positively using the impact-waves that occur by the expansion of and by the contraction of and by the destruction of cavitation. Also, such an ultrasonic cleaner, for cleaning semiconductor substrates or the like, undergoes the cleaning process by using comparatively high-frequency ultrasonic waves (hundreds of kHz to some MHz) and by controlling the force of impact caused by the destruction of cavitation (see e.g. Patent Document 1). Such an ultrasonic cleaner, to maintain cleaning efficiency, needs a certain kind of technology to control the occurrence of cavitation.
It is also known that if a hydrophone, that is, a sensor for detecting e.g. sound pressure, is inserted into the cleaning liquid of the ultrasonic cleaner, that voltage, corresponding to the sound pressure of the acoustic field, is outputted. At this time, not only the frequency component f of the fundamental wave is generated by the oscillator but a high-frequency component (harmonic component) and a sub-harmonic frequency component and a broadband white-noise frequency component are generated. A non-linear sound derived from cavitation is outputted especially near the condition-value whereat cavitation starts. Therefore, regarding the prior art, as described in e.g. Patent Document 2, it is suggested to verify if cavitation occurs or not by monitoring the occurrence of a non-linear component such as a harmonic component or a sub-harmonic component or the like.

Sound-pressure analyzer and a method in the high-intensity acoustic field, and an ultrasonic cleaner and an ultrasonic processor


A rotary damper includes an operating part mounted in an interior in a vehicle in such a manner that the operating part can be introduced or withdrawn, an operating part case that guides a path of the operating part, a pinion gear mounted to one side of the operating part and a guide rail rotatably mounted to the operating part case such that the pinion gear can be engaged with the guide rail. Further, a separation preventing protrusion is provided at a portion of the guide rail, where the pinion gear starts to move in a curvilinear form, the separation preventing protrusion configured to support an outside surface of the pinion gear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a damper for controlling the operating speed of an operating part, such as a power outlet or an ash tray, of a vehicle, and, more particularly, to a rotary damper that is capable of uniformly controlling the operating speed of an operating part having a complex track.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the construction of a conventional damper having a linear track.
When the track of the damper is linear, as shown in FIG. 1, the damper is constructed in a structure in which a pinion gear 12 is mounted to an operating part, and a guide rail 14 is mounted to an operating part case such that the pinion gear 12 can be engaged with the guide rail 14. The interior of the pinion gear 12 is filled with a fluid for uniformly reduce the rotating speed of the pinion gear 12. Consequently, the moving speed of the operating part is controlled using the rotating resistance of the pinion gear 12.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the construction of another conventional damper having a complex track.
When the track of the damper is complex, i.e., a moving path 2 of an operating part includes a rectilinear path and a curvilinear path, as shown in FIG. 2, the damper is constructed in a structure in which a pinion gear 22 is mounted to the operating part, and a guide rail 24, with which the pinion gear 22 is engaged, is arranged along the moving path 2 of the operating part.
However, it is very difficult to uniformly maintain a damping force in a section 5 where the rectilinear path and the curvilinear path are connected with each other. As a result, the operating efficiency and the sensitivity of the operating part are deteriorated.


Physical layer processing methods for network acquisition by remote nodes in wireless communication systems are described herein. New methods for wireless network discovery and synchronization by remote nodes are described herein that utilize spatial (e.g., antenna array) processing algorithms which may achieve enhanced functioning in challenging radio frequency environments, such as those containing interference and multipath distortion effects. These methods may include advantageous use of spatial whiteners and associated pluralities of adaptive beamformers to detect network reference and synchronization signals and estimate their parameters.

Wireless internet and cell phone services operate primarily in wireless frequency bands allocated by the FCC for that purpose. These licensed bands regulate usage to minimize signal congestion and prevent impaired functioning due to destructive interference between incompatible network and signal formats. While the use of licensed bands circumvents the interference vulnerability of existing wireless networks, it has resulted in a scarcity of usable wireless spectrum. Certain other wireless spectrum is designated as unlicensed, not requiring a license from the FCC. For example, Wi-Fi networks and some variations of the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) operate in unlicensed spectrum (e.g., in the unlicensed spectrum. However, in order to be commercially deployable, systems may need the capability to mitigate the effects of a broad range of radio-frequency (RF) interference from other users in those unlicensed bands. A similar need for interference mitigation is also arising in licensed bands, as signal crowding continues to increase in nearly all bands allocated for wireless services.
Wireless networks equipped with antenna arrays, e.g., equipped with multiple antenna elements at each network node, such as in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems (e.g. Wi-Fi) and emerging massive MIMO systems, have the potential to exploit the spatial diversity afforded by such antenna arrays to achieve enhanced functioning in interference, noise, multipath, and other common radio signal propagation impairments, by using the arrays to dynamically shape directional response patterns (e.g., peaks and nulls) to maximize signal quality while reducing interference power. However, this potential, especially for interference mitigation, has not been the focus of these array-based systems, which limit their use of spatial diversity to generating multi-stream MIMO links based on standard spatial multiplexing methods, and/or to simple beam-pointing to increase link performance. None of these methods explicitly mitigate interference, and in fact they are highly vulnerable to it. Accordingly, array-based processing represents a largely untapped enabling technology for migrating existing and future wireless WAN systems into unlicensed bands.
Inherent to all prominent and/or practical wireless WAN standards (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, and proprietary variants) is a need for remote nodes (RNs) to first discover a network and achieve frequency- and time-synchronization to that network. This is an essential prerequisite to any form of substantive network (e.g., internet) access activity. For example, a RN may identify and synchronize to an intended base station node (BN). For reliable operation in unlicensed and increasingly crowded licensed bands, these essential wireless network discovery and synchronization functions will require interference mitigation, methods for which are described herein.

Systems and methods for calculating beamforming weights used in wireless network discovery, synchronization, and reference signal waveform identification


A communications network for providing communications for Group 1 Users, Group 2 Users and a plurality of digitally-controlled appliances is disclosed. Said communications network includes a first switch operatively connected to a server, a router, a second switch, and a third switch. Said second switch is operatively connected to a first access point and a second access point. Said third switch is operatively connected to a third access point and a fourth access point. Said first access point is wirelessly connected to Device A, said second access point is wirelessly connected to Device B, said third access point is wirelessly connected to Device C. Said fourth access point is programmed to allow communications between User F wirelessly connected to said fourth access point and any said Group 1 Users, any said Group 2 Users, any of said plural appliances, said server, and said router.

Current systems and methods for deploying and/or operating a wireless communication network in a private residential neighborhood or a multi-unit building generally rely on placing a wireless router (e.g., access point) in each individual unit. As used herein, multi-unit buildings may be single floor or multi-floor buildings, and include buildings containing apartments, offices, condominiums, dormitories, etc., as well as referring to buildings such as hotels, motels, inns, shopping malls, and similar structures. One of the problems with the approach used by current methods is that wireless routers are typically designed to provide coverage of an area that is much larger than an individual unit. Consequently, there is significant bleed over of signals into neighboring units, both on the same floor and on neighboring floors. Such an arrangement compromises the privacy and security of the user of a unit's router and may also lead to interference between the wireless routers used in different units.
Furthermore, if a unit's user (i.e., the owner, renter, resident, office worker, guest, etc.) has a wireless device in his unit (e.g., a wirelessly-controlled thermostat, refrigerator, light, or other similar appliance or device) which he controls from his mobile apparatus (e.g., cell phone, laptop, wireless electronic tablet, etc.) his control of that wireless device may be partially or totally impaired once the user exits the coverage area (e.g., "cell") of his unit's particular access point ("AP").
Additionally, there is a need to prevent one user from seeing a neighboring user while still allowing each of the users to access authorized networks (e.g., a server and/or a router to the internet) as well as allowing each user to access only his/her authorized wireless devices (e.g., user A can access his wireless thermostat but cannot access user B's thermostat). Moreover, it would be advantageous for each user to access his/her authorized wireless devices from a location that is outside of the range of his unit's particular AP. On top of all this, the building owner may desire to operate a network separate from the user network such that the building owner can access the internet and/or a server and any user and/or any user's wireless device while the users are prevented from accessing anyone other than the building owner's designated representative (e.g., a system operator).
Accordingly, there is a need for a solution to the problems described above associated with current methods for deploying and/or operating a wireless network in a multi-unit building.

System and method for network user isolation


In a reliable semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device, a difference in height between upper surfaces of a cell region and a peripheral region (also referred to as a level difference) is minimized by optimizing dummy gate parts. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a cell region and a peripheral region surrounding the cell region, a plurality of dummy active regions surrounded by a device isolating region and formed apart from each other, and a plurality of dummy gate parts formed on the dummy active regions and on the device isolating regions located between the dummy active regions, wherein each of the dummy gate parts covers two or more of the dummy active regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device, in which a dummy gate part is formed in a peripheral region, and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor devices continue to be more densely integrated, individual circuit patterns are becoming more densely arranged to attempt to include more semiconductor devices within the same area. The high density of circuit patterns causes various problems during manufacturing of semiconductor devices, and thus new methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices are being developed.
Generally, in the manufacture of a semiconductor device, a gate pattern is formed on a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulation layer is formed on the gate pattern, and a circuit layer is formed on the interlayer insulation layer. To form the circuit layer on an even interlayer insulation layer, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is performed on the interlayer insulation layer after the interlayer insulation layer is formed. However, due to the formation of gate patterns in a cell region, the interlayer insulation layer will not be level with a peripheral region even after CMP. If a pattern corresponding to the circuit pattern is formed on the interlayer insulation layer, it may cause a defective pattern due to the lack of a defocus margin.
Therefore, a dummy gate part is formed in the peripheral region, which corresponds to a real gate parts in the cell region, to prevent the aforementioned problem.
FIGS. 1 through 3 are sectional views illustrating a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device having a dummy gate part of the prior art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the top surface of a semiconductor device 10 is divided into two regions: a cell region C having formed thereon semiconductor memory devices and a peripheral region P formed around the cell region C and having formed thereon some control devices and dummy devices. In the cell region C, a real active region 11a is formed, surrounded and defined by a device isolating region 12. Also, a plurality of dummy active regions 11c, surrounded and defined by the device isolating region 12, and some real active regions 11b are formed. Also, a plurality of real gate parts 14a, which form semiconductor devices, are formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 in the cell region C by having a gate insulation layer (not shown) therebetween. A plurality of dummy gate parts 14c are also formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 in the peripheral region P by having a gate insulation layer (not shown) there-between. As needed, some real gate parts 14b may also be formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 in the peripheral region P.
The dummy gate parts 14c formed in the peripheral region P are formed in correspondence to the real gate parts 14a only to decrease a difference in height between upper surfaces of the cell region C and the peripheral region P (herein referred to as "a level difference"), and are insulated from surrounding conductive layers by a insulating material layer. Also, each of the dummy gate parts 14c is formed on each of the dummy active regions 11c, respectively. When impurity ions are implanted to the real active region 11a in the cell region C, the impurity ions may also be undesirably implanted to the dummy active regions 11c in the peripheral region P, and thus the dummy gate parts 14c are formed so that each dummy gate part 14c covers a corresponding dummy active region 11c.
Referring to FIG. 2, a thick interlayer insulation layer 16 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 10, on which the real gate parts 14a and the dummy gate parts 14c are formed. While the interlayer insulation layer 16 in the cell region C is evenly formed due to high density of the real gate parts 14a, the interlayer insulation layer 16 in the peripheral region P is formed unevenly because relatively more of the material forming the interlayer insulation layer fills spaces between the dummy gate parts 14c, formed at a density lower than that of the real gate parts 14a. Thus, there may be many sunken parts on the surface of the interlayer insulation layer 16 in the peripheral region P.
Referring to FIG. 3, CMP is performed on the interlayer insulation layer 16 to form an even top surface. Since the density of the real gate parts 14a in the cell region C is larger than the density of the dummy gate parts 14c in the peripheral region P, a level difference t at right side is created.
Therefore, a circuit layer or another interlayer insulation layer (not shown), which is to be formed on the interlayer insulation layer, cannot be formed evenly due to the level difference t between the cell region C and the peripheral region P, and thus the unevenness may cause a defective pattern in the formation of circuit patterns.

Semiconductor device including dummy gate part and method of fabricating the same


An operations control apparatus is disclosed which includes a unit for processing data for operations control of an object, which has an event controller element, a common data base element and a simulator element; a operations control data diagnosis unit; a management element for checking the processing of the respective elements in response to the state of the object, to prepare the optimum processing order of the respective elements and for instructing the same to the event controller elements; a failure mode and effect analysis sheet preparing and correcting element; and a diagnosis rules preparing and correcting element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling operations of an object such as an artificial satellite in orbit after launching.
2. Prior Art
FIG. 1 illustrates an operations control apparatus according to a prior art as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-70939. The operations control apparatus as shown in the drawing consists, in general, of a ground reception/transmission unit 2 adapted to execute transmission and reception processing of the telemetry data to be received from an artificial satellite 1 and the command data, etc. to be transmitted to the artificial satellite, a data processing unit 3 adapted to process these data, a data diagnosis unit 4 adapted to diagnose these data and an operations console unit 5 which is equivalent to an input/output unit comprising a cathode ray tube and a key board, these components being in general use, is employed for use in displaying a graphic diagram on a screen of a cathode ray tube or inputting a command by an operator from the key board, and serves as the interface between an operator and these units described above.
The above-described data processing unit 3 incorporates in constitution of the software (algorithm) shown in FIG. 2 the respective means for the software comprising a telemetry data processing means 11, a command data processing means 12, an orbit/attitude determining means 13, an orbit/attitude control and planning means 14, an event controller means 15, a common data base means 16, and a simulation means 17. In the data diagnosis unit 4 mentioned above, there is incorporated software for a diagnosis means 18 normally referred to as "an expect system" which comprises software for data diagnosis, comprising the knowledge data base section 18a and the inference function section 18b.
Operation of the operations control apparatus as described above will next be explained. According to the operations control apparatus for an artificial satellite which is constituted as above described, the telemetry data and the ranging data from the artificial satellite are input by way of the ground reception/transmission unit 2 to the data processing unit 3, where the respective processing will be carried out by the means 11-14 shown in FIG. 2.
In FIG. 2, the event controller means 15 is assumed to determine the order of activation of the means 11 through 18 and the means 11-14 will be activated in accordance with a predetermined processing order unless an external interruption is caused.
The manner of operation of the event controller means 15 will next be explained by referring to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, S81 designates the external interruption step where a decision is made as to whether the event controller means 15 has been externally interrupted by an operator by using, for example, the operation console unit 5 including an input device such as a key board or the like so as to stop the processing. If there has been no such interruption, the process proceeds to the normal processing step S82 so that the respective means 11-14 will be activated in a predetermined processing order. Then the process proceeds to the step S83 where the common data base 16 will be activated to write the result of the processing therein. Then the process proceeds to the step S84 where the diagnosis means 18 will be activated and the data of the processing results will be diagnosed. After that, the process returns to the step S81.
In the mean time if it is found in the step S81 that the event controller means 15 has been externally interrupted, the process proceeds to the step S85 where the designated means will be caused to be activated and executed in accordance with the external request made by an operator and a decision is made in the step S86 whether the predetermined processing has been entirely completed or not. If confirmation of completion of the entire processing operation is not given, the process is still incomplete and proceeds back to the step S81.
As explained above, by means of the event controller means 15, the respective processing is automatically executed under normal conditions, while the processing can be executed as instructed by an operator owing to the external interruption even if any abnormal condition is caused.
The manner of operation in the case of the data diagnosis by using the simulation means 17 and the diagnosis means 18 will next be explained.
The simulation means 17 provides a simulation program which may simulate in advance the movement of an artificial satellite and is used as a so-called computer simulation by which the movement of an artificial satellite when the orbit control and the attitude control will be executed will be assumed and computed by the simulation means 17 before the orbit and attitude control of the artificial satellite will be actually executed.
The diagnosis means 18 provides software (or a program) which is normally called "expert system" in the field of knowledge engineering and artificial intelligence, and comprises a knowledge data base section 18a and inference function section 18b. It is activated in the data diagnosis unit 4 as described above and executes the data diagnosis processing.
The above-mentioned knowledge data base section 18a constitutes a data base comprising an aggregate of the rules for the decision criteria of the data diagnosis. An example of the diagnosis rule for the data for operations control will be explained by referring to FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the respective rules 91-95 each consist of an assumption part 90A and a conclusion part 90B, wherein the assumption part 90A corresponds to a subordinate clause such as "if . . . ", and the conclusion part 90B corresponds to a clause such as "then . . . ". For example, what is meant by rule 1 (91) is "If the temperature of the fuel tank for the artificial satellite is out of the range from 15.degree. C. to 30.degree. C., the temperature of the fuel tank is abnormal". The aggregate of such rules comprises the knowledge data base 18a.
The above-mentioned inference function section 18b is constructed with a general algorithm which is generally called the "inference engine" or the like in the field of knowledge engineering and artificial intelligence. More specifically, it is provided in the form of software that, for example, allows an inference to be made from a result by way of a so-called syllogism or the like, and is operable when making an inference with the results of diagnosis from the aggregate of the "if . . . , then . . . " rules.
Operation for diagnosing the operations control data for an artificial satellite by using the respective means 15-18 as explained above will now be explained by referring to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining operation of the data diagnosis, wherein if the data diagnosis function is activated (or started) by the event controller means 15 described above, then the systematic diagrams of the overall system of the artificial satellite and the subsystem are displayed on the operation console unit (Step S101). The failure occurring part (or the abnormal part) is displayed as discriminated by color on the systematic diagram as described above in accordance with the result of the data diagnosis based on the diagnosis means 18 (Step S102). Then diagnosis of a failure is executed (Step S103). A countermeasure for the failure is prepared (Step S104). This countermeasure for the failure is also contained in the above-mentioned rules and such a countermeasure is automatically selected depending on the failure. Simulation at the time of executing this countermeasure is performed by using the simulation means 17 and the result is thereby assumed (Step S105). At the end of the procedure, command data for executing the countermeasure is prepared and transmitted to the artificial satellite (Step S106).
Since the software means incorporated in the operations control apparatus according to a prior art is constituted in the manner as above explained, at the time of normal processing by means of the event controller means 15, the respective processing will be executed only in accordance with the predetermined processing order, such that processing cannot be optimized depending on the situations in the manner of on-line processing by altering the processing order as desired. Accordingly, not only in operations control of a single artificial satellite but also in simultaneous operations control of a plurality of artificial satellites according to the normal processing method of a prior art, a specialist has to always watch the processing order and execute correction of the processing order depending on the failure, resulting in a more complicated processing operation and the expenditure of more time.
Furthermore, the diagnosis rules which are to be contained in the knowledge data base section 18a of the diagnosis means 18 must be revised for each use in diagnosis of operations control of an artificial satellite by a specialist in the field of artificial satellites, in accordance with the design values at the time of designing which are used as the reference values, and addition and modification for the diagnosis rule currently in use also have to be executed by a specialist, with the result that a tremendous amount of work and time by a number of specialists had to be expended during the period of operation of an artificial satellite.


A method of fabricating a solid state electrolytes memory device is provided. An insulator layer is formed on a substrate. A conductive layer is formed on the insulator layer. At least two openings partially overlapped and capable of communicating with each other are formed in the conductive layer, so that the conductive layer forms at least a pair of tip electrodes. Thereafter, solid state electrolytes are filled in the openings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory device and a method of fabricating the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a solid state electrolyte memory device and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
The demands for non-volatile memories have been dramatically grown since 1999, that is because, considerable wide applications continuously appear in the recent years, for example, portable disks, digital camera memory cards, cell phone memories, so a novel market that cannot be covered by any of the technologies is created.
The current non-volatile memory product is flash memory. However, the architecture of the current flash memory elements has gradually faced the challenge of physical limitations after the 65 nm technology era. Moreover, the flash memory also faces challenges from various characteristic limitations, for example, low operation speed and short operation cycles, so its application is greatly limited. Accordingly, many technologies have been widely researched and discussed. However, there are many potential worries about these technologies, for example, the potential of size keep reducing, excessively high power consumption during switching, etc. Therefore, it is required to further develop and update a memory technology having a deep potentials and capable of meeting the vast memory requirements in the future.
One of the memory devices that have been extensively researched currently is resistance random access memory (RRAM), which uses transition metal oxides as resistance converting materials. However, the mechanism for the resistance changes of the transition metal oxides remains uncertain till now. Many research institutes set forth various different theories to explain the changes in the transition metal oxides, for example, a filamentary current path theory, an oxygen deficiency rearrangement theory. As the mechanism is till unclear, the feature problems of the RRAM elements, such as endurance, cannot be effectively solved. For example, some literatures show that the CuxO RRAM can only be operated for about 600 cycles.
On the other aspect, some people researches solid state electrolyte memory, which has desirable endurance performance. In the research of Ag-containing GeSe material in the Solid-state Laboratory, University of Arizona, USA, the test has already been performed for 1010 cycles. Therefore, this new technology deserves deep research.

Solid state electrolyte memory device and method of fabricating the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Measuring pipettes including integral or encapsulated filters, as well as methods and apparatuses for forming the same, are provided. A filter material (e.g., a discrete element in solid form) or a filter material precursor (e.g., a foamable thermoplastic composition and a blowing agent) to be introduced into a hollow interior of a softened thermoplastic material present within a mold during pipette fabrication. A pipette includes a filter element comprising foamed polymeric material within a mouthpiece region, wherein an outer portion of the filter element is bound to or encapsulated in an inner wall of the mouthpiece region. A filter material precursor may be supplied coaxially with a tubular flow of thermoplastic material into the mold, may be supplied laterally through a mold wall, or may be injected into a molten thermoplastic pipette forming material upstream of an extruder outlet.

Pipettes are well-known tubular devices that usually have openings at both ends, and are designed to dispense measured quantities of liquids. Pipettes have had widespread usage in a number of industries where accurate measurement and delivery of fluids are required, particularly the medical and laboratory testing and analysis fields. Measuring pipettes typically embody straight glass or plastic tubes with one tapered end, and are calibrated into small divisions so that various amounts of liquid can be measured with the same pipette. Measuring pipettes include Mohr pipettes (with graduation marks that end before tapering begins proximate to the tip) and serological pipettes (with graduation marks that continue to a tapering region proximate to the tip).
Multiple different methods exist for fabricating pipettes, including (i) welding mouthpiece and tip components to a hollow tube, (ii) reheating a thick tube followed by drawing down and trimming the pipette at one or both ends to form a tip and mouthpiece, and (iii) molding with application of a pressure differential, including vacuum forming and blow molding. Each of these methods entails certain tradeoffs with respect to cost, quality, and/or performance.
Examples of molding with application of a pressure differential according to method (iii) to form pipettes are disclosed in International Publication No. WO 2017/091540 A1 entitled "Unitary Serological Pipette and Methods of Producing the Same," which is assigned to Corning Incorporated and is hereby incorporated by reference herein. An exemplary pipette 10 that may be produced according to such a method is shown in FIG. 1A, with the pipette 10 including a mouth region 12, a body region 14, and a tip region 16, with magnified portions of the foregoing regions shown in FIGS. 1B-1D, respectively. (FIGS. 1A-1D correspond to figures contained in International Publication No. WO 2017/091540 A1.) Each of the mouth region 12, the body region 14, and the tip region 16 may have a corresponding wall thickness (namely, a mouth thickness 22, a body thickness 24, and a tip thickness 26) and a corresponding diameter (namely, a mouth diameter 32, a body diameter 34, and a tip diameter 36). FIGS. 1B-1D also show the pipette 10 as having an inner curved surface 11 that encloses a space 18. Referring to FIG. 1A, the pipette 10 includes a mouth 13 and a tip 15 that are aligned along a longitudinal axis, and includes a filter 19 proximate to the mouth 13. Optionally, the pipette 10 may have a mouth-body transition region 20 between the mouth region 12 and the body region 14, as well as a body-tip transition region 21 between the body region 14 and the tip region 16. In certain implementations, a substantially smooth inside surface 31 is provided in the transition regions 20, 21 to reduce retention of fluid and/or particulate material. The pipette 10 may also include a series of graduated volumetric markings 17 printed (or imprinted) along an outside surface 30 of (at least) the body region 14 to indicate a volume of liquid contained in the space 18 within the pipette 10. The pipette 10 may be sized to hold a particular volume of liquid (e.g., 1 mL, 2 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 25 mL, 50 mL, 100 mL, or another desired volume). The pipette 10 may be manufactured of any suitable materials, such as glass or polymers (e.g., polystyrene, polyethylene, or polypropylene).
Optionally, the mouth thickness 22, the tip thickness 26, or both the mouth thickness 22 and the tip thickness 26, may be similar to the body thickness 24. In certain implementations, one, some, or all of the mouth thickness 22, the tip thickness 26, and the body thickness 24 may be in a range of from 0.25 mm to 2.5 mm, or from 0.4 mm to 1.5 mm, or from 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm, or from 0.25 mm to about 0.5 mm, or from about 0.25 mm to about 0.5 mm. Enhanced thickness in the mouth and tip regions 12, 16 may provide certain advantages, such as by making such regions more resistant to damage or breakage during use. The mouth, body, and tip diameters 32, 34, 36 may each be measured externally (e.g., between opposing points on an outer surface of the pipette 10). Optionally, the body diameter 34 may be greater than either the mouth diameter 32 or the tip diameter 36. The specific body diameter 34 may depend on the volume of liquid the pipette 10 is sized to hold. In certain instances, the body diameter may be in a range of from about 4.0 mm to about 25.0 mm.
Fabrication of the pipette 10 by molding with application of a pressure differential may include supplying a heated parison (e.g., a tube or preform, typically in the shape of a hollow cylinder) into a mold, and creating a differential pressure between an interior and an exterior of the parison to cause the parison to expand and conform to a cavity of the mold. Optionally the heated parison may be extruded directly into the mold. Differential pressure between across a wall of a parison may be created by either supplying pressurized gas (e.g., compressed air at 0.05 to 1.5 MPa) into an interior of the parison, or by generating subatmospheric pressure conditions (also known as vacuum conditions, e.g., at a pressure of 0.01 to 0.09 MPa) along surfaces defining the cavity of the mold. When the expanded material (now embodied in a pipette) has cooled sufficiently, the mold is opened, the pipette is ejected, and the mold may receive another heated parison (e.g., by extrusion into the mold) to repeat the process. Thereafter, in a secondary post-fabrication step, the filter 19 is inserted into the mouth 13 of the pipette 10 to be retained within the mouth region 12. The filter 19 typically comprises a fibrous material.
The process of adding a fibrous filter to a pipette requires precision filter cutting, conveying, and insertion equipment. Filter insertion equipment (also known as filter plugging equipment) may include one or more stations to accomplish functions of inserting a filter into a pipette mouthpiece, and tamping the filter to a desired position within the mouthpiece. Yet another station may check for presence and proper positioning of a filter in a pipette mouthpiece before clearing the pipette for further processing operations (e.g., sterilization and packaging). In certain instances, a pipette may need to be designed with a molded mouthpiece component to provide a locating feature to register the depth of the filter in the pipette. A grain size of the filter must also be optimized with the inner diameter of a pipette mouthpiece to enable an interference fit between the filter and mouthpiece, and thereby prevent the filter from moving. A failure to properly position and retain a filter within a pipette may lead to detrimental effects such as: presence of loose fibers or particles in a pipette; incursion of additional labor cost to reprocess a pipette during manufacturing; and/or interference with pipette operation, thereby rendering the pipette to be unusable by the end user.
Given the foregoing, there is a need for pipettes having improved filters, as well as a need for improved methods and apparatuses for producing such pipettes.

Pipette with encapsulated or integral filter, and method and apparatus for forming same


An organic light emitting display device includes first and second electrodes facing each other on a substrate, at least one emission layer formed between the first and second electrodes, a hole transport layer formed between the first electrode and the emission layer, and an electron transport layer formed between the second electrode and the emission layer, wherein the emission layer includes a first emission mixed layer formed on the hole transport layer, the first emission mixed layer including a first hole-type host and a first phosphorescent dopant, and a second emission mixed layer formed between the first emission mixed layer and the electron transport layer, the second emission mixed layer including a first electron-type host and a second phosphorescent dopant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting display device which may prevent deterioration of luminous efficiency and lifespan.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recent transition into an information-oriented society has caused rapid development in the field of displays to visually represent electrical information signals, and correspondingly a variety of flat panel display devices exhibiting excellent properties, such as being thin and lightweight as well as requiring low power consumption, have been developed.
Representative examples of these flat panel display devices may include Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) devices, Plasma Display Panel (PDP) devices, Field Emission Display (FED) devices, and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display devices.
In particular, organic light emitting display devices are self-illuminating devices, and have faster response speed, higher luminous efficiency and brightness, and wider viewing angle than other flat panel display devices.
Typically, such an organic light emitting display device includes an anode and a cathode arranged to face each other with an emission layer interposed therebetween, such that an electron-hole pair, i.e. an exciton is generated via recombination of a hole injected from the anode and an electron injected from the cathode within the emission layer, and in turn light is emitted via transition of the exciton to the equilibrium state. However, in the typical OLED device, the exciton generated in the emission layer spreads out through the emission layer to interfaces with an electron transport layer and a hole transport layer proximate to the emission layer, which reduces luminous efficiency and causes rapid deterioration of the electron transport layer and the hole transport layer proximate to the emission layer, resulting in reduction of lifespan.


A power transmission apparatus includes a first rotation member connected to a first rotation shaft, a second rotation member connected to a second rotation shaft, a third rotation member provided between the first rotation member and the second rotation member, a damper portion provided between the first rotation member and the third rotation member to absorb a torque fluctuation between the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft, a torque limiter portion arranged between the second rotation member and the third rotation member to transmit a torque equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the torque limiter portion restricting a torque transmitted between the second rotation member and the third rotation member from exceeding the predetermined value in a case where a torque greater than the predetermined value is input to the torque limiter portion, and a dynamic vibration absorber provided at the second rotation member.

A known power transmission apparatus disclosed, for example, in JP2003-4101A includes two rotation members connected to each other by a damper portion, and a dynamic vibration absorber formed by a centrifugal force pendulum device provided at one of the two rotation members. In the aforementioned power transmission apparatus, for example, one of the rotation members is connected to an internal combustion engine for a vehicle while the other of the rotation members is connected to a transmission of the vehicle so that a power transmission is performed between the internal combustion engine and the transmission.
According to the aforementioned power transmission, in a case where resonance of the damper portion occurs at a start or in a low revolution state of the internal combustion engine, for example, a large vibration may be input to the dynamic vibration absorber, which may cause component members of the dynamic vibration absorber to collide with one another by a large force.
A need thus exists for a power transmission apparatus which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.


A power transmission structure of a power supply unit includes a base plate. The base plate is provided with a plurality of spaced metallic plates. One end of each metallic plate is provided with a first connecting portion and the other end is provided with a second connecting portion to connect the components of the power supply unit respectively for power transmission. Thus, the present invention can take the place of conventional power cords, and the power transmission structure can be flattened to decrease the space occupied by the power transmission device, such that the required interior accommodation space of the power supply unit can be decreased effectively and the volume of the power supply unit can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power transmission device, and more particularly to a power transmission structure of a power supply unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The interior of a conventional power supply unit is provided with a plurality of power cords to connect components and to connect a power input end with a power converting device and to connect the power converting device with a power output end for power transmission. In general, the radial cross-section of a conventional power cord has a circular shape. A conventional power supply unit is provided with power cords having a diameter of at least 8 mm as power transmission. With the power cords to connect the components of the power supply unit, the power cords occupy too much space, so the power supply unit must have a certain volume and interior space. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

Power transmission structure of power supply unit


A composition is described in which honey is the keratolytic agent in a cosmetic and/or dermatological composition, in particular as an active agent for improving the radiance of the complexion and/or for smoothing the skin of the face and/or body and/or for treating wrinkles and fine lines. The composition makes it possible to gently combat the ageing of the skin of the human face and/or body.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a cosmetic or dermatological composition containing honey as a keratolytic agent and a method of applying same for improving the radiance of the complexion, smoothing the skin of the human face or body, or for treating wrinkles and fine lines. It also relates to a topical composition containing honey and at least one fatty alcohol. It relates also to a topical composition containing honey and at least one hydroxy acid, which composition is buffered at pH 5 and makes it possible to gently combat the ageing of the skin of the human face and/or body.
2. Discussion of the Background
There is an increasing desire by the population to look younger and less wrinkled by using cosmetic compositions containing active agents capable of combating ageing.
Unfortunately, conventional anti-ageing active ingredients, such as retinoids and acidic active agents, such as hydroxy acids, exhibit the major disadvantage of causing stinging, itching or tightness after they have been applied, which can result in great discomfort. Use of these compounds with sensitive skin is therefore often impossible.
To overcome the above disadvantages, attempts have been made to use hydroxy acids resulting from natural products, such as fruit or honey. Thus, the .alpha.-hydroxy acids extracted from honey are described as much less irritating than synthetic products (see Smith, Cosmetics & Toiletries, September 1994, vol. 109, p. 41-48). These acids are obtained by extraction from fermented honey. However, they still exhibit a degree of discomfort when applied to the skin.
The need consequently remains for a cosmetic and/or dermatological composition for combating ageing which does not exhibit the above-described disadvantages.
The inventors have found, surprisingly, that honey exhibits keratolytic properties and makes it possible to improve the radiance of the complexion of the skin and to smooth the features of the skin, thus causing the skin to appear younger and less wrinkled.
Honey has been used in cosmetic compositions intended for the treatment of ageing; see, for example, JP-A-59-55809, GB-A-120,673 and JP-A-6-38702. However, in these compositions, the honey is added as an additive to the active ingredients, which are active with respect to ageing, and its own effectiveness as keratolytic agent has never been described or realized.

Use of honey as keratolytic agent for improving the radiance and the complexion of the skin and treating wrinkles


A contact ring for an electrochemical plating system is provided. The contact ring includes an annular substrate supporting member, a plurality of radially positioned conductive substrate contact pins extending from the substrate supporting member, an annular conductive thief element attached to the substrate supporting member, and at least one source of electrical power in electrical communication with the contact pins and the conductive thief element.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention are related to an apparatus and method for adjusting the current density near the perimeter of a substrate during a plating process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Metallization of high aspect ratio 90 nm and smaller sized features is a foundational technology for future generations of integrated circuit manufacturing processes. Metallization of these features is generally accomplished via an electrochemical plating process. However, electrochemical plating of these features presents several challenges to conventional gap fill methods and apparatuses. One such problem, for example, is that electrochemical plating processes generally require a conductive seed layer to be deposited onto the features to support the subsequent plating process. Conventionally, these seed layers have had a thickness of between about 1000 Å and about 2500 Å; however, as a result of the high aspect ratios of 90 nm features, seed layer thicknesses must be reduced to less than about 500 Å. This reduction in the seed layer thickness has been shown to cause a "terminal effect", which is generally understood to be an increase in the deposition thickness of an electrochemical plating (ECP) process as a result of the current density across the surface of the substrate decreasing as the distance from the electrical contacts toward the center of the substrate increases. The impact of the decreased current density nearer the center of the substrate is that the deposition thickness near the perimeter of the substrate is substantially greater than the deposition thickness nearer the center of the substrate.
The increase in deposition thickness near the perimeter of the substrate as a result of the terminal effect presents challenges to subsequent processes, e.g., polishing, bevel cleaning, etc., and as such, minimization of the terminal effect is desired. Conventional plating apparatuses and process have attempted to overcome the terminal effect through various apparatuses and methods. For example, conventional plating cells have been modified to include active thief electrodes positioned in the wall of the plating cell. These configurations were generally unsuccessful in controlling the terminal effect as a result of their lack of proximity to the perimeter of the substrate, which resulted poor control over the deposition thickness near the perimeter. Additionally, conventional configurations have also been modified to include passive shield or flange members configured to control the terminal effect. However, these configurations were also unsuccessful, as they were generally ineffective in controlling deposition thickness near the perimeter of the substrate.
Therefore, there exists a need for an apparatus and method for adjusting the current density near the perimeter of a substrate during a plating process to overcome the terminal effect generated by thin seed layers in electrochemical plating processes.

Substrate support element for an electrochemical plating cell


A file tower structure is disclosed and has a rail configuration at the top thereof for hanging of office accessories to the exterior thereof. The office accessories can be stored within the file structure when not in use. Preferrably the file structure is mobile and has particular application for workers who do not require a dedicated office.

In many office environments today, there is a need to have greater flexibility with respect to file storage structures for use with free standing tables and work surfaces which are easily moved. In addition, file storage for private office furniture is not as efficient as file storage associated with panelling systems. For example, office panelling systems effectively use pedestal file cabinets and overhead bins. Shared office workstations or work tables which are available to workers when they are at a particular location also require effective storage. Although the workers are not always present, they typically retain some records and files at the location requiring a dedicated storage space. This storage space can take into account personal items that they prefer to use as well as limited storage of files of perhaps a mailbox or correspondence box where information can be left for their review upon their return. It is preferred to have these types of storage devices mobile so that they can be conveniently stored without interfering with the work table or workstation which will be shared with others.
The present invention provides improvements to storage structures used in the applications described above.


A composition containing unique particles of copper pyrithione wherein greater than 20 wt % to 90 wt % of the particles have a particle size of greater than 10 microns, as determined by laser light scattering using a particle size distribution analyzer, and wherein the particles are flat acicular needle-shaped is described herein. Also described herein is an antifouling paint containing the copper pyrithione and a method of making the composition and antifouling paint.

Ships, fishnets or other underwater structures or equipment tends to be attacked aquatic organisms such as barnacles, mussels, and algae, and the like. Organisms can grow and multiply and eventually cause significant problems. For example, in the case of a ship's hull, the growth of marine organisms on the hull can increase the frictional resistance between the hull and water, thus increasing fuel consumption and reducing the speed of the ship.
One approach to the problems is to coat the surfaces of the structures with an antifouling coating which contains a "self-polishing" polymer is present. "Self-polishing" polymers generally have hydrolysable groups within the polymer backbone. Over time, the polymer at the outmost layer of the coating is hydrolyzed and becomes water erodible residue. This water erodible residue is subsequently removed by water, resulting in a smooth, foul free surface. Such action is commonly referred to as a "self-polishing" effect, which continues until the antifouling coating is removed from the surface to which it is coated. At which time, a new antifouling coating must be placed on the surface. Generally, self-polishing polymers are typically acrylates with metal ester or silyl ester functionality.
Self-polishing polymers can be used in combination with biocides such as copper pyrithione to further enhance antifouling performance. Copper pyrithione utilized in the paints typically have relatively small particle sizes. Illustratively, EP 1 695 963 B1 discloses that if more than 20% of the copper pyrithione particles have a size of over 10 micron, then it is difficult to disperse the particles in a paint.
Unfortunately, in some formulations, copper pyrithione of a small particle size may leach out of the paint film too fast, particularly in warm water, thus compromising the antimicrobial efficacy of the paint.
Accordingly, there is a need in the paint manufacturing community to provide a paint that contains adequately dispersed copper pyrithione particles having larger particle sizes relative to conventional copper pyrithione particles utilized in the paint. The present invention provides an answer to that need.

Synthesis of copper pyrithione from zinc pyrithione and copper compound


A method and system is disclosed in which the local variation of an extended radiation source is monitored with single-element detector. The chromatic aberration of the imaging optics induces the different transmittance curves for different wavelengths, and the different shape in the transmittance curve is used as a spatial filter which is multiplied to the chromatic intensity profile of the extended radiation source to detect the local variation in the intensity profile of the extended radiation source. The signal processing of the chromatic signals is implemented to detect the size variation and the environmental effects on the extended radiation source. A fiber is also used for remote operation.

The extended radiation source has been monitored for tracking, weld monitoring and autofocusing with single-element or array detectors. Though the array detector can monitor the variation of the extended radiation source easily, it cannot be used with a single-core fiber.
On the other hand, it is quite difficult to monitor the variation of the extended radiation source with single-element detector. In the tracking, a single-element detector can monitor the motion of the extended radiation source, but the local variation inside of the extended radiation source has never been monitored with single-element detector.
The chromatic aberration of optics has been used in autofocusing (U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,859) and tracking (U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,236). In these U.S. patents, array detectors have been used as means for capturing the images. Therefore, these prior arts have the problem that they cannot be used with the single-core fiber.
Further, the chromatic signals from weld pool have been used in the weld monitoring (U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,329), but this patent does not use the aberration of the optics itself.

Method and system for spatial filtering of an extended radiation source with chromatic aberration of imaging optics in single-element detector measurement for monitoring of the extended radiation source


A the semiconductor chip stack in which an intermediate space between semiconductor chips is filled at least along one edge of the upper face of a top chip by a spacer composed of a polymer which can be structured photographically, of photoresist, of an encapsulation compound or an adhesive, and is sealed from the outside. During the passivating process, the connecting contact pads are kept free of the material of this spacer for bonding wires or other external connections on the upper face of the bottom chip.

Semiconductor chip stacks can be produced in that two semiconductor chips which each have an upper face that is provided with at least one electronic component and one wiring level are permanently connected to one another with these upper faces facing one another, with connecting contacts on the respective semiconductor chips being directly electrically connected to one another via an interposer or a vertical electrically conductive connection. This arrangement (face-to-face) has the disadvantage that it is difficult to passivate the intermediate space or gap which remains between the semiconductor chips. Such passivation should not impede the rest of the assembly process; in particular, connecting contact pads on a bottom chip should not be contaminated for external connection, for example by means of bonding wires.
The chips are normally passivated using oxinitride and polyimide. However, this requires a subsequent photolithographic opening for the connecting contact pads (bonding pads). Lithography can be carried out only with difficulty on the populated wafers because the wafers which contain the bottom chips that have not yet been separated are difficult to cover with resist layers and to expose once the top chips have been fitted. The passivation process is in particular made more difficult when interconnects on the upper face of the bottom chip lead from the free upper face under the top chips that have been fitted. The connecting contact pads may also be positioned very closely adjacent to the top chips (a few hundred micrometers), so that conventional package encapsulation compounds cannot be used to seal the intermediate space.


A distributed directory management system includes a plurality of service spaces on a network each having an object repository storing service objects to be retrieved and attribute information pieces thereof. A service object managing mechanism for each service space manages the object repository and executes retrieval of a service object using the attribute information piece as a key. A service space connection managing mechanism for each service space implements message communication with the service object managing mechanisms to collect mutual connection information of the service spaces and manages the collected mutual connection information. A service object retrieval managing mechanism for each service space sends a retrieval message from a user to the service object managing mechanism in the same service space to request execution of retrieval of a service object. Upon failure in retrieval, the service object retrieval managing mechanism requests another service object managing mechanism to execute retrieval of the service object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a distributed directory management system which enables retrieval and management of various service objects while coping with changes of a network structure in a complicated network environment such as a large scale intranet or the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Art
For retrieving various information in a complicated network environment such as a large scale intranet or the Internet, a system is necessary for managing and accessing the information. This system is called a directory management system, and there are directory services for offering such a system to users. As examples of the directory services, there are known the "hosts" file and the DNS (domain name system) for recording and managing the correspondence between host names and IP addresses in the TCP/IP network. These are a kind of database files with a name managing function.
There is available another directory service called X.500 regulated by the CCITT. This regulates protocols and structures of distributed arrangement/hierarchy management/reproduction management of directories and manages various network resources according to an object oriented concept. Here, the network resources refer to information about directories. The X.500 directory service has been widely adopted in distributed operating systems, distributed processing middleware and so on.
In the X.500, when a user is connected to the directory service to retrieve/change a service object in a directory, a protocol called a DAP (directory access protocol) is used. The service object is information to be retrieved by the user. There has further appeared the LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) which solves a problem of the DAP and is used as an access protocol in many directory services.
For example, the LDAP is used in the active directory function introduced in WindowsNT5.0 and, the Netscape Directory Server.
The foregoing conventional techniques, however, have the following problem.
While running the network, the network resources used in the directory service, i.e. the information about the network directory, are changed through addition, deletion and update according to various environmental changes. However, the management of the directory service corresponding to those changes is carried out manually, which is quite bothersome.
On the other hand, the directory service for realizing cooperation of networks each having a unique service space is called a hierarchy managing function between directories. In this directory service, when a user in a certain service space retrieves a target service object, it is necessary that the user knows a hierarchy structure between directories and carries out a retrieval process corresponding thereto. Accordingly, without recognizing the hierarchy structure between the directories, the proper retrieval can not be achieved.
Further, when utilizing the network in such a large scale wide-area distributed environment, a mechanism is necessary for giving a right of using the system to only those users having particular qualification, per service space. The conventional directory service protocols are not provided with a function satisfying such a requirement.


An image forming apparatus can suppress the degradation of an image signal due to electrostatic discharge with a simple configuration. An original feeder unit is supported openably and closably by a hinge mechanism fixed on a bottom member of an image reading unit. An image sensor substrate of an image reading unit and an image processing substrate of an image forming unit are connected by a cable. An electrically conductive connecting portion electrically connects a bottom member of the image reading unit with a casing of the image forming unit, and is arranged along the cable. The bottom member has a notch formed therein, the connecting portion is fixed to the bottom member so as to extend over the notch, and the cable is arranged so as to pass through an opening portion thereby formed in a direction from above to below of the bottom member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which includes an image forming unit and an image reading unit that is arranged on the image forming unit and has an image reading portion therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ordinary image forming apparatus is provided with an image reading unit having therein an image reading portion which reads out an image formed on an original, and an image forming unit having therein an image forming portion which forms an image on a sheet, and has the image reading unit arranged on the image forming unit. The image reading portion includes a printed circuit board (image sensor substrate) having a photoelectric conversion element which exposes the original to light while scanning the original and thereby captures image information therein.
The image forming unit has an image processing portion which is arranged on a rear side of a casing and performs image processing. This image processing portion includes a printed circuit board (image processing substrate) that is a printed wiring board which has semiconductor devices such as a CPU mounted thereon.
The image reading portion and the image processing portion are connected by a cable, and the image processing portion acquires an image signal from the image reading portion through the cable. An original pressing plate for bringing an original into pressure contact with a platen is arranged on the image reading unit, and the original pressing plate can be freely opened and closed by a hinge mechanism.
In recent years, this original pressing plate is often incorporated in an original feeder unit which automatically feeds the original to the image reading unit. The hinge mechanism needs to freely open and close the original feeder unit which is a heavy article while supporting the original feeder unit and is, therefore, formed out of an electrically conductive member made of metal or the like.
Here, since an image signal (digital signal) is transmitted to the cable which connects the image reading portion to the image processing portion, it is required to suppress a radiation noise from the cable that is generated when the image signal is transmitted.
To suppress the radiation noise, the end of the lower part on the rear side of the electrically conductive casing of the image reading unit is connected to the end, opposite to the former end, of the upper part on the rear side of the electrically conductive casing of the image forming unit by an electrically conductive connecting member, and the cable is arranged on the connecting member. This connecting member functions as a path of a return current in response to a signal current passing through the cable. The radiation noise from the cable is suppressed by arranging the cable in the proximity of the connecting member.
However, the hinge mechanism is formed out of the electrically conductive member as described above and is a movable portion. For these reasons, it is difficult to cover the hinge mechanism wholly with an outer sheath such as a resin member, resulting in the exposure of the electrically conductive member. This causes electrostatic discharge (Electrostatic Discharge: ESD) to easily invade the casing of the image reading unit from the hinge mechanism.
The noise current caused by the ESD invading the casing of the image reading unit passes through the connecting member, and propagates through the casing of the image forming unit. At this time, the noise current propagates through the cable by electromagnetic coupling with the cable arranged in the vicinity of the connecting member, and may cause degradation of the image signal transmitted by the cable. Furthermore, in recent years, the transmission rate of transmitting this image signal becomes extremely high because of the accelerated image reading and image forming rates of the image forming apparatus and the improved definition of the image. As a result, the image signal is more susceptible to the noise such as the ESD.
To cope with these problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-146150 proposes a method of making a cable less susceptible to noise such as ESD by shielding the cable.
However, the shielded cable described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-146150 has a problem of high cost.
Moreover, if the shielded cable is applied to the cable which connects the image reading portion to the image processing portion in the image forming apparatus, new problems occur. Specifically, the image reading portion needs to mechanically scan the original when reading out the original, and it is, therefore, required for the cable through which the image signal is transmitted to have a slidably flexing performance. In recent years, the image reading portion is thinner and the movable area of the cable which moves along with the scanning of the image reading portion is also limited, accordingly. Owing to this, the cable is required to have a higher slidably flexing performance. However, the shielded cable is disadvantageously unable to provide a sufficiently high slidably flexing performance since the shielded cable includes a shielding layer.


A training device includes a base formed of a thermoplastic elastomeric material that transmits near-infrared radiation and which re-seals after being punctured by a needle of the type used to draw blood from veins. A plurality of simulated veins is formed in the thermoplastic elastomeric material. Each simulated vein is an elongate cylindrical void or lumen formed in the thermoplastic elastomeric material. A blood-simulating and near-infrared absorbing fluid is disposed in each lumen of the plurality of simulated veins. A first simulated vein is formed near a top surface of the thermoplastic elastomeric material, a second simulated vein is positioned further from the top surface, and a third simulated vein is positioned still further from the top surface. A white-in-color cover overlies the base to reflect a computer projected image representing underlying near-infrared absorbing structures that simulate veins that are detectable by near-infrared vein imagers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to devices that help clinicians practice finding and accessing veins. More particularly, it relates to a device having utility with near-infrared vein imagers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Gaining access to a vein with a hypodermic needle requires no visual or mechanical aid if the vein is near the skin surface of a healthy patient and is thus visible to the unaided eye. Veins that are not near the surface or which may be difficult to see due to other reasons including age, health, and the condition of the patient's skin are much more challenging to access. One prior art solution is to apply light by fiberoptic or LED technology directly to the skin to transilluminate and therefore highlight otherwise difficult to see veins. The Veinlite® vein finder performs that function.
Visible light-reliant vein finders have less utility finding veins that are not near the surface or which are hard to see for other reasons. Such devices also have a very limited amount of area that can be visualized at one time (typically 31 mm at most).
A device that does not rely upon visible light is sold under the trademark Veinsite® hands-free vascular imaging system; it is worn as head gear and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,532,746 which patent is hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure. Near-infrared radiation is aimed at a patient's limb from emitters located in the Veinsite® headgear and an integrated infrared sensitive video camera images the same area. The computer and optically processed video camera image is displayed on a grayscale LCD screen positioned in front of the user's eyes. Hemoglobin contained in the blood vessels absorbs the near-infrared light while other tissues scatter the radiation. The contrast between absorption and scattering is displayed on the LCD screen, thereby allowing the user to perceive the location of underlying vessels that are not easily seen with an unaided eye. With the displayed image, an intravenous catheter or hypodermic needle can be effectively guided to access the vessel. If needed, the user can see the treatment area directly with the unaided eye by directing the eyes downward, i.e., not observing the display screen. This device also allows viewing of large areas of the skin simultaneously.
Other devices that use near-infrared radiation for vein detection and which include a projector are known commercially as the VeinViewer® and the AccuVein® vein viewing system.
The term "near-infrared" as used in this disclosure includes infrared radiation as well for claim interpretation purposes. "Near-infrared" radiation is defined in Wikipedia as having a wavelength in the range of from about 800 nm to 2500 nm and "infrared radiation" is defined by Wikipedia as having a wavelength from about 700 nm to 1 mm (one millimeter being one million nanometers). Visible light is defined as having a wavelength from about 390 nm to 700 nm. The infrared range of 700 nm to 1,000,000 nm clearly includes the near-infrared range of 800 nm to 2500 nm.
Although these devices perform well, the only training they provide is on-the-job training, i.e., the clinician uses the device for the first time on a patient.
Thus there is a need for a training device that in combination with near-infrared vein finders simulates the appearance and relative depths of veins in a way that enables a clinician to practice intravenous access before locating a vein in a patient. Development of psychomotor skills prior to clinical and live patient use provides greater chance of procedural success and serves to lessen patient discomfort.
Prior art vein finding practice devices for visual vein access practice have major drawbacks that do not allow their use with near-infrared devices. First, they are made of materials that do not transmit near-infrared light. Secondly, the liquid fluid material used to simulate blood does not absorb near-infrared light. Another drawback is that simulation of the relative depth of the vessel cannot be achieved.
There is a need for a training device for near-infrared imagers formed of a material that re-seals itself after puncture and subsequent retraction of a needle. The device would have non-toxic blood-simulating liquid fluid in the simulated veins, and said liquid fluid would be visible under near-infrared imaging. Moreover, veins that are close to the surface would be imaged as clear black images and veins further from the surface would be imaged as gray images that appear lighter gray and have less edge definition with increased depth.
However, in view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art how the needed training device could be provided.