An alkaline storage cell has a negative electrode containing hydrogen-storing alloy powder, additive powder containing metal zinc or zinc compound, and a binding agent for binding particles of the powders. The hydrogen-storing alloy powder has a composition expressed by a general expression: Ln1-xMgx(Ni1-yTy)z, where Ln represents at least one element chosen from a group consisting of the lanthanoids, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr and Hf, T represents at least one element chosen from a group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B, and x, y and z represent numerical values which meet 0<x<1, 0≦y≦0.5 and 2.5≦z≦4.5.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an alkaline storage cell using hydrogen-storing alloy for the negative electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a great demand for the alkaline storage cell using hydrogen-storing alloy for the negative electrode, for consumer use, because of its characteristics such that it has a high capacity and that it is cleaner than the cells using lead or cadmium.
Specifically, for this type of alkaline storage cell, AB5-type rare-earth alloy such as LaNi5 is generally used. However, the discharge capacity of the cell using this type of alloy already exceeds 80% of the theoretical capacity, so that the possibility of further enhancing the capacity is limited. Meanwhile, the rare earth-Mg—Ni hydrogen-storing alloy obtained by replacing the rare-earth element in the AB5-type rare-earth alloy partly with Mg has a characteristic that it can store a larger amount of hydrogen gas than the AB5-type rare-earth alloy at temperatures close to room temperature. Hence, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-73132, the development of the alkaline storage cell using the rare-earth magnesium alloy has been being advanced.
The alkaline storage cell using the rare earth-Mg—Ni hydrogen-storing alloy disclosed in the above-mentioned publication has, however, a problem that decrease in operating voltage due to repetition of a charge/discharge cycle occurs earlier, compared with the alkaline storage cell using the AB5-type rare-earth alloy.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I)

The present invention is concerned with novel substituted 3-cyanothiophene acetamides, their manufacture and their use as medicaments. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these 3-cyanothiophene compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds.
The glucagon receptor (GLUR) is a G-protein coupled 7-transmembrane domain receptor (GPCR) of the secretin family. When the natural hormonal ligand glucagon binds to the GLUR, there is an activation of adenylate cyclase and a concomitant increase in cAMP production. This increase in cAMP causes an activation of glycogen phosphorylase resulting in an increase in hepatic glucose production. The actions of glucagon are counter-regulatory to insulin and thus it is believed to play a central role in glucose homeostasis. Glucagon has been used clinically to rescue diabetic patients from hypoglycemia. Thus, a small molecule GLUR antagonists has considerable potential for the treatment of diabetes.

Substituted 3-cyanothiophene acetamides as glucagon receptor antagonists

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and n are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which are associated with the antagonism of the glucagon receptor, such as diabetes.


A trench transistor having a semiconductor body, in which a trench structure and an electrode structure embedded in the trench structure is disclosed. The electrode structure is electrically insulated from the semiconductor body by an insulation structure. The electrode structure has a gate electrode structure and a field electrode structure arranged below the gate electrode structure and electrically insulated from the latter. There is provided between the gate electrode structure and the field electrode structure a shielding structure for reducing the capacitive coupling between the gate electrode structure and the field electrode structure.

One aspect of the invention relates to a trench transistor and to a method for fabricating a trench transistor.
Trench transistors have a semiconductor body, in which a trench structure and an electrode structure embedded in the trench structure are provided. The electrode structure is electrically insulated from the semiconductor body by means of an insulation structure. In the case of a field plate trench transistor, the electrode structure is divided into a gate electrode structure and a field electrode structure arranged below the gate electrode structure, in which case the field electrode structure may be electrically insulated from the gate electrode structure.
It is always an aim to further increase the integration density of the trench transistors. This may be effected, on the one hand, by reducing the distances between the individual trenches of the trench structure (that is to say that the width of that part of the semiconductor body which is situated between the trenches ("mesa zones") is reduced). On the other hand, the width of the trenches themselves may be reduced. If use is made of the second possibility, that is to say that the width of the trenches is reduced, then it is generally necessary likewise to reduce the thickness of the insulation structure which electrically insulates the field electrode structure from the semiconductor body (since the reduction of the insulation structure thickness has a great "miniaturization potential"). This is problematic, however, since, in the case of excessively thin insulation layers between the field electrode structure and the semiconductor body, particularly in the case of fast switching operations, strong capacitive coupling effects occur between the drain/drift region of the trench transistor and the gate electrode structure (coupling of drain/drift region—field electrode structure—gate electrode structure) if the field electrode structure is electrically insulated from the gate electrode structure.

Trench transistor and method for fabricating a trench transistor


Embodiments of the present invention provide an open and interoperable single sign-on session in a heterogeneous communication network. The open and interoperable single sign-on system is configured by exchanging an entity identifier, an account mapping, an attribute mapping, a site attribute list, an action mapping and/or the like. The entity identifier, account mapping, attribute mapping, site attribute list, action mapping and the like for each partner entity is stored in a partner list accessable to the particular entity. Thereafter, the open and interoperable single sign-on session may be provided upon receipt of a SAML request or assertion containing an entity identifier. The entity identifier contained in the SAML request or assertion is looked-up in the partner list of the particular entity which received the SAML request or assertion. A record containing a matching entity identifier provides the applicable account mapping, attribute mapping, site attribute list, and/or action mapping. The one or more mappings are then utilized to process the SAML request or assertion.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a network according to the conventional art is shown. As depicted in FIG. 1, a plurality of organizations 105–120 are communicatively coupled by one or more communication channels 190, 195, such as the internet or an extranet. Each organization 105–120 typically comprises a plurality of client devices 125–165 communicatively coupled to one or more servers 170–182. The servers 170–182 provide one or more resources, such as execution of applications and/or storage of information.
In the conventional art, the client 125 logs-on to a particular entity's server 170, wherein the user provides a username, password and/or the like. Based upon the username, password and the like, the server 170 authenticates the client 125 and determines the client's 125 authorization to access particular resources.
If the client 125 then tries to access resource on another server 172, establishing authentication and utilizing resources is problematic. The other servers 172–182 do not know that the client device 125 has been authenticated by a particular server 170. Furthermore, each organization 105–120 and/or server 170–182 may have a different login script, may require a different protocol, may utilize different information, may store the same information in differing structures, formats and/or the like. Therefore, the client typically has to sign onto each server 170–182 separately.
For example, a user may wish to access resources on various organizations 105–115 in the performance of their work, such as using the internet 190 to make travel arrangements. The user first logs-on to the company's (e.g., Widget Corp.) network server 170 utilizing a client device 125. The user may manually or via a script, enter their username (e.g, jdoe) and password in order to logon to the network server 170. The network server 170 provides an internet portal.
The user may then navigate using a browser to the website of an airline 115. The user will likely be required to enter their name, address and the like to book a flight. The user's address may be stored as a single field (e.g., address) in a record corresponding to the user's reservation. Similarly, the user may then navigate to a car rental agency 110 to reserve a rental car. Once again, the user may be requested to enter their name and address to reserve the car. The user's address may be stored as a plurality of fields (e.g., street address, city, state, zip code) in the record corresponding to the user's reservation. Similarly, the user may also navigate to a website of a hotel chain 120 to reserve a room. The user may be requested to enter a username (e.g, janed), password and the like to reserve the room using a corporate account.
Heterogeneous systems require various information. Some information may be common to each, while other information may be unique to one or more systems. Each system may also store the same information in various different formats. Thus, the interoperability of the various systems is problematic. Furthermore, the need to logon to each entity's server 170–172 and re-enter the same information (e.g., address, username) reduces the users satisfaction and productivity.
The need to logon multiple times is not limited to moving between multiple entities 105–120. For example, the user may login to their employer's network server 170 to access the finance server 180. The user may again be required to enter a username, password and the like in order to enter expenses, such as meals, entertainment and gas, incurred during their business travel. Along with entering a username, password and the like, the user may be required to enter their social security number, which is utilized to limit authorization to resources on the finance server 180. The financial server 180 may save the social security number in a field entitled "ssn." The user may then wish to check their retirement account. Once again the user may be required to provide a username, password and the like to access the payroll server 182 in order to check their retirement account. Along with enter a username, password and the like, the user may be required to enter their social security number, which the server utilizes to limit authorization to utilize resources on the payroll server 182. The financial server 180 may save the social security number in a field entitled "social security." Accordingly if different fields contain the same information, the interoperability of the systems may be limited even though the fields are substantially the same.
The Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) specification is intended to provide a solution allowing single sign-on for secure authentication and authorization. SAML is an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) standard designed for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions.
Referring now to FIG. 2A, an exemplary SAML request/assertion according to the conventional art is shown. As depicted in FIG. 2A, SAML requests and assertions 210 are transmitted within a SOAP envelope 215 via HTTP 220.
Referring now to FIG. 2B, an exemplary SAML data packet according to the conventional art is shown. As depicted in FIG. 2B, the data packet comprises an HTTP header 250, a SOAP header 255 and a SAML payload 260. A request or assertion is encoded into the SAML payload 260. A SOAP header 255 is then generated and attached to the SAML payload 260. An HTTP header 250 is then generated and attached to the SOAP header 255 and SAML payload 260. The SAML payload containing a request or assertion may comprise an issuer identifier, an assertion identifier, an optional subject, an optional advice, a condition, an audience restriction, a target restriction, an application specific condition and the like.
Upon receipt, the HTTP header 250 is processed to provide routing and flow control. The SOAP header 255 is then processed to provide information concerning the content of the payload and how to process it. The SAML payload 260 may then be processed to provide security information.
Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) for single sing-on functionality is intended to allow users to authenticate themselves in one domain and use the resources in another domain without re-authenticating themselves. SAML is intended to be an open and interoperable design for web-based single sign-on service functionality. However, differences in the organization and utilization of information limit the application of SAML in a heterogeneous network.

Method and system for providing an open and interoperable system


A semi-automatic tool cuts pizzas into pieces of the same size. A platform has a supporting column provided with a cantilever arm terminating with a sleeve and a slidable rod is within the sleeve. The rod has a base with a series of radial blades on its lower face and a control lever on its upper face by means of which said rod is pressed downwards against the force of a return spring mounted on the rod.

The tool is designed to resolve, economically and practically, a problem often encountered in pizza places where the pizza, as in the case of giant pizzas, is served in pieces of the same size to several customers. These special pizzas are generally prepared with different seasonings and ingredients so that one pizza can be cut into pieces with different seasoning.
These giant pizzas are generally served in pieces so that each person can take the piece--without having to cut it--with the seasoning and in the size he or she prefers.
To date these pizzas have been cut by hand using a bread knife or a special tool consisting of a saw-tooth wheel sliding idly about a supporting rod at the end of a handle.
In any case, regardless of whether a bread knife or the above cutting wheel is used, in order to cut the pizza into pieces, it is necessary to make repeated diameter cuts which require some care if all the pieces are to be of the same size; it is evident that despite the experience or ability of the person who cuts the pieces, it is practically impossible for them to be of exactly the same size.

Semi-automatic tool for cutting pizzas into pieces of the same size


The traveling wave excitation system phase shifter chassis method and device of the invention is compact, inexpensive, and versatile when compared to customary methods for generating traveling wave excitation signals that would require using an equivalent number of commercial function generators. The method and device of the invention produces up to 56 simultaneous sine waves that are phase shifted with respect to one another.

The invention relates to providing multiple sinusoidal voltage signals at the same frequency or simultaneously sweeping in frequency, each having a programmable amplitude and phase.
Several applications in structural dynamics testing and active vibration and acoustic control require multiple excitations programmed at specific amplitudes and phases. The excitations may be used to simulate rotational forces, excite particular vibration modes of a structure, or cancel unwanted vibration or noise. These multiple excitations require multiple channels of signal generation with programmable amplitude and phase.
A simple, prior art method of phase shifting a signal is to pass it through an analog circuit with an inductive and resistive load. The amount of phase the circuit provides could be controlled with a programmable resistor which changes the phase response of the circuit. The problem with this method is that the change in resistance also changes the amplitude response of the circuit. Therefore, this method has the disadvantage that only an arbitrary phase or amplitude can be commanded on each channel, but not both.
Another prior art method is where both amplitude and phase can be adjusted using a single-channel phase shifter. Multiple single-channel phase shifters can be referenced to the same input sinusoid to create multiple phased sinusoid outputs. The problem with this system is its lack of programmability. The user must manually adjust a gain and phase knob on each channel. At best, these adjustments would have to be made any time the user desired to change his test set-up with a different arrangement of amplitudes and phases on the channels. At worst, these adjustments would have to be made for every frequency change when controlling actuators with slightly different frequency responses. Each single phase shifter is programmable and can be controlled via standard GPIB instrument control. One disadvantage of this system is that each module can only adjust the phase and not the amplitude of each channel. Also, this system uses a programmable time delay to cause the phase shift. The user is required to manually input (via software) the time delay directly or the frequency of the input waveform. Therefore, the second disadvantage is that automatic phased frequency sweeps are not possible with this system and changing frequency manually to perform a sweep test would be cumbersome and time consuming.
Another prior art approach for producing programmable amplitude and phase-shifted sinusoids is to use multiple phase-locking commercial function generators. The disadvantage of this method is its expense for large numbers of channels such as those that might be needed to excite a bladed disk. (Some bladed disks have over 100 blades).
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for an inexpensive programmable multiple channel amplitude and phase shifter which can operate either at a single frequency or sweep in frequency. The traveling wave excitation system phase shifter chassis method and device of the invention is compact, inexpensive, and versatile when compared to customary methods for generating traveling wave excitation signals.

Programmable multi-channel amplitude and phase shifting circuit

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


The present invention, generally speaking, provides an apparatus and method whereby the current flow through an RF power transistor may be monitored without the use of any external parts. More particularly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an RF power transistor includes a silicon die, a pair of interdigitated electrodes formed on the silicon die, each having a multiplicity of parallel electrode fingers and at least one bond pad. Regions of a first type of diffusion are formed beneath electrode fingers of one electrode of the pair of interdigitated electrodes, and regions of a second type of diffusion are formed beneath electrode fingers of another electrode of the pair of interdigitated electrodes. One electrode has multiple electrode fingers and multiple resistors formed on the silicon die, at least one resistor connected in series with each one of the electrode fingers. A further electrode is provided having at least one electrode finger and connected to a further bond pad, and at least one resistor is formed on the silicon die and connected in series with the further electrode. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for monitoring and controlling current flow in an integrated RF transistor within an RF transistor circuit. The integrated RF transistor has multiple emitter ballast resistors and a circuit, including a bond pad for monitoring current flow. The RF transistor circuit includes a bias control and feedback circuit connected to the bond pad. Current flowing through at least one of the emitter ballast resistors is routed to the circuit for monitoring current flow. Using the bias control and feedback circuit, the current flowing through the integrated RF transistor is influenced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power transistors, more particularly to radio frequency (RF) power transistors of the silicon bipolar type. Such transistors are commonly used in amplification stages for radio base station amplifiers, but are also widely used in other RF-related applications.
2. State of the Art
Transistor devices used for power amplification at high frequencies need to meet numerous detailed requirements for output power, gain, ruggedness, efficiency, stability, bandwidth, etc., at a specified supply voltage and operating frequency. The operating frequencies for modem telecommunication electronics range from several hundred megahertz up into the microwave region. The output power requirements range from a few watts up to several hundred watts, using many paralleled devices in one package. Power transistors operate at large signal levels and high current densities. Computer tools presently available are often not sufficient to predict detailed behavior or performance in real applications.
The semiconductor material most commonly used for power transistors (at least for frequencies below 3 GHz) is silicon. Furthermore, because of the higher mobility of electrons as compared to holes, virtually all microwave bipolar transistors are of the NPN type. Epitaxial n on n+ wafers are used as a starting material to reduce collector series resistance. An insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor surface, and base and emitter layers are formed by diffusion or ion implantation. Different doping profiles produce different frequency and breakdown voltage characteristics, and different horizontal geometries produce transistors of different current capabilities.
Interdigitated, overlay and mesh structures have been used to reduce the dimensions of the active areas of power transistors and reduce parasitics, to handle and distribute the large amount of current in the transistor, and to provide heat spreading. An interdigitated structure 10 is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of interdigitated base and emitter electrodes B and E, respectively, are deposited above an oxide layer overlying a collector diffusion region 11, indicated by dashed lines. As shown in FIG. 2, within the collector diffusion region 11 are located alternating base diffusion regions 13 and emitter diffusion regions 15 underlying the fingers of the base and emitter electrodes B and E, respectively. A transistor is formed by the collector substrate (N), a base diffusion region (P) and an emitter diffusion region (N). Metal emitter fingers 16 are deposited over the emitter diffusion regions and metal base fingers 14 are deposited over the base diffusion regions. All of the base fingers and all of the emitter fingers, respectively, are connected together such that all of the individual transistors are connected together in parallel.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the overlay structure differs from the interdigitated structure in that the diffusion regions (base and emitter) and the electrode fingers (base and emitter) are transverse to one another. The emitter electrode fingers are overlaid directly on the emitter diffusion regions and are separated from the base diffusion regions by an oxide layer. The emitter diffusion regions are discontinuous so as to allow a base finger to pass between adjacent emitter diffusion regions and connect to different base diffusion regions. The base diffusion regions are continuous.
Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in a typical mesh structure power transistor, base diffusion islands 13 are formed within a surrounding emitter diffusion region 15. Two base diffusion regions are joined by adjacent base electrode fingers 14a and 14b on either side of an emitter electrode finger 16.
A traditional metallization layout of a silicon cell 10' is shown in FIG. 7. Because of thermal instability in bipolar transistors, techniques must be used to evenly distribute the current in the transistor. Resistance is therefore added to each segment of the transistor, such that an increase current through a particular emitter will be limited by the resistor. This technique is known as emitter ballasting. A resistor Re is formed in series with each emitter finger, either by diffusion, ion implantation, or deposition of a suitable metal (e.g., nickel-chromium, NiCr) on top of the silicon dioxide. All of the resistors are joined together by the emitter electrode E. An emitter bond pad 17 provides for bonding of a wire to the emitter electrode E. Similarly, all of the base fingers are joined together by the base electrode B, and a base bond pad 19 provides for bonding of a wire to the base electrode B.
Apart from emitter ballasting, in many situations, it is desirable to be able to monitor the current flow through the transistor. Using closed-loop feedback techniques, the transistor bias may then be controlled so as to maintain the transistor current within a desired range. In the prior art, monitoring the amount of current flowing through the transistor has generally been accomplished using an external resistor connected in series with the collector-base current path of the transistor. Such an external resistor consumes power and decreases efficiency. The use of such discrete parts also increases costs and increases the possibility of assembly error.
What is needed, then, is an apparatus and method whereby the current flow through an RF power transistor may be monitored without the use of any external parts.

Ballast monitoring for radio frequency power transistors


Disclosed is a negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery, which is capable of further improving the charge/discharge cycle characteristics. Also disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery which uses the negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery. The negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery is composed of composite particles each of which has a core/shell structure configured of a core part that is formed from a polymer and a shell part that is formed of a metal layer. The metal layer of the shell part is formed by metal plating. Preferably, the metal layer comprises at least a metal layer (a1) that is formed by electroless plating and a metal layer (a2) that is formed by electrolytic plating, in this order from the core part side.

Recently the mobile terminals such as a laptop computer, a cell phone, PDA or so has become extremely common, and as the power supply of these mobile terminals, a lithium ion secondary battery has been used in many cases. As the demanding characteristics of the mobile terminal power supply, the high capacity may be mentioned; however currently the capacity of the battery using the graphite type negative electrode is saturated, thus it is difficult to make large increase in the capacity. Thus, the use of silicon (Si) and tin (Sn) or the alloy thereof as the negative electrode active material is being thought in order to attain larger capacity (Patent document 1).
However, when the charge and discharge is carried out in such lithium ion secondary battery, the negative electrode active material expands and contracts during the insertion and extraction release of the lithium and causes a crack in the negative electrode layer. If, further charge-discharge are repeated under such condition, then the negative electrode layer can not withhold the rapid expansion and contraction of the negative electrode active material and due to the cracks in the negative electrode being spread or so, the negative electrode layer may be released and slip off.
Therefore, it is demanded to improve the cycle characteristics by solving such problems. Thus, in order to improve such cycle characteristics, the Patent document 2 describes the technology to manufacture hollow particles of alloy; however, such hollow particle of alloy did not necessary allow to obtain the sufficient cycle characteristics. Also, during the press of the electrode, the corruption of the hollow particle of alloy occurred, and it was not possible to control the desired density.
Said document also describes the method of removing the core portion made of polymer by heat treating after the production of the electrode. However, there are some problems such as lowering the conductivity or so since the current collector foil is oxidized.
Also, even when said core portion is left, there were still problems such that the sufficient charge-discharge cycle can not be obtained.

Negative electrode active material for lithium ion secondary battery and lithium ion secondary battery


A brush saver for cleaning and preserving the useful life of a paint brush comprising a transparent body for enclosing and suspending a paint brush and a solvent in a sealed vertical orientation, and a removable top cap for engaging the handle of the paint brush and preventing the bristles of the paint brush from being distorted. In a preferred embodiment, a handle of the paint brush extends upwardly out of the brush saver and the bristles of the paint brush are enclosed with the solvent in the brush saver. The brush saver may also have a permanent magnet on the side of the body for attaching the saver on a paint can, an absorbent open cell pad in the interior of the body and a removable cap on a side of the body for adding and removing solvent from the enclosure.

Experienced painters recognize the value of a clean, well maintained paint brush. A clean, well maintained paint brush reduces time and produces a quality job. Painting with a clean, well maintained paint brush produces finishes which are smooth, even, free of runs and bristles. When painting it is often necessary to stop and prevent the paint from hardening on a brush. After painting is finished, a brush must be cleaned and stored to preserve its life. Improper cleaning and storage will diminish a brush's performance and shorten its life. It can increase expenses, particularly when an expensive paint brush is not properly cleaned and stored.
Several methods are used for cleaning and preventing paint from hardening on a paint brush. One method is to wash the brush in an open container with a petroleum distillate, such as a chlorinated solvent, turpentine or paint thinner. Some chlorinated solvents emit vapors which are classified as carcinogenic. Vapors of some solvents, such as naphtha and toluene can aggravate physical conditions such as asthma or injure respiratory systems. Recent laws require commercial cleaners to use closed systems which prevent discharges of vapor into the environment.
Another method is to soak and wash a brush in warm soapy water. This method is time consuming and except for water based paints is inferior to washing a brush in a petroleum distillate. Another method is to store a brush upright in an open container in paint or a solvent. As long as the bristles of the brush are immersed in the paint or solvent, they will remain flexible and capable of holding paint. Unfortunately, this solution does not prevent an undesirable discharge of vapors or prevent the bristles from becoming deformed. If the brush is supported on the bristles for a long period of time, the bristles may become so deformed as to become useless.
The present invention solves all of the above problems. The invention of a brush saver comprises a transparent vertical body of sufficient length for enclosing and preventing the bristles of a paint brush from contacting the walls of the body; a removable cap for supporting the brush and sealing the body; and a lower base for supporting the brush saver in a vertical position on a surface. An optional permanent magnet is provided on the side of the body for attaching the brush saver to a side of a paint can or other metallic surface. In a preferred embodiment, a removable cap is provided on the side of the body for adding and removing solvent and paint. In a second embodiment, an absorbent open cell pad is provided inside of the saver.
In employing the teaching of the present invention, alternate constructions can be adopted to achieve the desired results and capabilities. In this disclosure, although several embodiments are discussed, the disclosed embodiments are intended as examples only and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.
Further features and benefits will be apparent by reference to the drawings and ensuing detailed description of a preferred embodiment which discloses the best mode contemplated in carrying out the invention. The exclusive rights which are claimed are set forth in the numbered claims following the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.


A staple apparatus includes a support tray for stacking sheets into a sheet bundle, a head unit arranged at a position away from the support tray and having a drive device for driving a staple into the sheet bundle, an anvil unit arranged on the support tray for bending the staple driven into the sheet bundle, and a staple operating device for pressing the head unit against the anvil unit and for separating the head unit from the anvil unit. A cover member is arranged to freely open and close a space for the stapling operation between the head unit and the anvil unit, and a control device controls the staple operating device not to operate when the cover member is not positioned at the closed position.

The present invention relates to a stapler apparatus for stacking and stapling sheets with images formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer or printing machine to form a bundle, a sheet finishing apparatus used as an end unit apparatus of an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet finishing apparatus.
In general, a stapler apparatus for binding sheets includes a head unit with staple drive means called a driver for driving a staple and an anvil unit with bending means such as a clincher for bending leading ends of the staple. The head unit and the anvil are arranged at opposing positions with a sheet bundle therebetween. One of the head unit and the anvil unit is moved downward rapidly to penetrate a U-shaped staple into a sheet bundle, and the anvil unit bends the leading ends of the staple. Such an apparatus has been well known in the art.
A variety of sheet finishing apparatuses have been known as an end unit apparatus of an image forming apparatus, in which sheets with images are stacked and aligned on a processing tray. Then, a stapler apparatus disposed in the processing tray binds the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is stored on a stacking tray.
The stapler apparatus disposed in such a sheet finishing apparatus is provided with a staple cartridge in the head unit thereof. A roll or a sheet of straight staples joined together into a band or belt shape is stored in the cartridge. A former member disposed in the head unit bends the straight staple into a U-shape, and the driver member drives the U-shaped staple into the sheet bundle. A clincher disposed in the anvil bend bends the leading ends of the staple to bind the sheet bundle.
An operation of stapling is completed in a series of movements of the head unit from a position away from the anvil unit to a position contacting the anvil unit. A rotating cam connected to a drive motor directly moves the anvil unit, or a servo mechanism such as a lever moves the anvil unit.
Accordingly, the head unit and anvil unit are arranged apart for a distance with the sheet bundle therebetween, and move (normally, one of the head unit and anvil unit) rapidly to a contact position, so that the staple penetrates into the sheet bundle. It is possible that a loud noise is generated during the stapling operation. If a finger of an operator or other foreign object is inserted into the apparatus during the operation, it is possible to cause an accident or malfunction.
Recently, the size of the sheet finishing apparatus has been reduced, and the stapler apparatus tends to be disposed near a paper removal outlet of a stacker for storing the sheet bundle. In such a structure, it is possible that an operator touches the mechanism of the stapler apparatus when removing a sheet. It is also possible that the operator touches the apparatus when a problem such as staple jam occurs. If the stapler apparatus is operated when the operator touches the apparatus, the operator may get injured. Further, the stapler apparatus causes the problem of generating noise during the operation or jamming a foreign object.
In order to prevent the problems of noise or intrusion of a foreign object, an apparatus has been known in which rollers are provided for discharging the sheet bundle after stapling. The rollers are arranged to move vertically between an open position and a closed position, and the rollers are closed during the operation of stapling.
Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-058756 has disclosed such an apparatus in which rollers are disposed at a side of a trailing edge of the sheet bundle relative to a stapler disposed at a leading edge of the sheet bundle. The rollers move to contact the sheet bundle during the stapling operation. However, such a structure is limited to an apparatus with a specific configuration. In particular, in an apparatus in which a stapler apparatus is arranged at the leading edge of the sheet bundle and the sheet bundle is removed from a backside of the stapler apparatus, it is difficult to prevent a finger from inserting or a foreign object from jamming. In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-058756, it is possible that the stapling operation could accidentally occur when the rollers are retracted from the sheet bundle and a finger of an operator is inserted.
When the stapler apparatus runs out the staples after the binding operation, it is necessary to replace the staple cartridge to replenish the staples. In addition, when a staple is jammed because of a wrong operation of stapling, it is necessary to remove the stapler apparatus from the finishing apparatus. In a conventional apparatus, a part of an external cover of the finishing apparatus is arranged to open, and faces a frame of the finishing apparatus mounted with the stapler apparatus. For example, in the stapler apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-058765, a cover is opened so that a staple cartridge is removed from the stapler apparatus. When a staple is jammed, the jam is handled while the stapler apparatus is still mounted to the finishing apparatus. In a stapler apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 09-267967, it is necessary to remove the stapler apparatus from a finishing apparatus to replace a staple cartridge.
In the stapler disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-058765, it is necessary to remove the jam while the stapler apparatus is still mounted to the finishing apparatus, thereby complicating the work and deteriorating operability. In the stapler apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 09-267967, the stapler apparatus is detachably mounted to the finishing apparatus. It is necessary to frequently remove the unit each time when the staples are replenished and return the unit at a right position, thereby making the work tedious. In particular, when the stapler apparatus is arranged at a backside of the sheet finishing apparatus, it is difficult to handle a staple jam.
In view of the problems describe above, an object of the present invention is to provide a stapler apparatus applicable to a variety of sheet finishing apparatuses and a sheet finishing apparatus provided with the stapler apparatus, wherein it is possible to prevent a finger of an operator or a foreign object from inserting into a staple mechanism. Even if a finger of an operator or a foreign object is inserted into the staple mechanism, it is still possible to prevent an injury or an accident.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stapler apparatus mounted to a sheet finishing apparatus, wherein it is easy to replenish staples or remove a jammed staple, and it is possible for an operator to safely mount or remove a stapler apparatus relative to a sheet finishing apparatus.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Stapling apparatus, sheet finishing apparatus, and image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet finishing apparatuses


Laser eye surgery systems, methods, and devices makes use of a two-pivot scanning system for laterally deflecting the laser beam across the corneal surface to provide X-Y scanning. An imaging lens pivots about two eccentric axes extending along, but disposed beyond the laser beam. As the lens pivots, the beam will follow a substantially arc-shaped path. The eccentric axes are offset about the laser beam axis by about 90xc2x0, and the system controller can compensate for the arc-shaped path deflections by adjusting the angular position of the imaging lens about complementary stage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to ophthalmic instruments and surgery. In a particular embodiment, the invention provides a mechanism and method for scanning a laser beam over a surface of a patient""s eye to effect resculpting.
Laser-based systems are now used in ophthalmological surgery on the surface of the cornea to correct vision defects. These systems use lasers to achieve a desired change in corneal shape, with the laser removing thin layers of corneal tissue using a technique generally described as ablative photodecomposition. These laser eye surgery techniques are useful in procedures such as photorefractive keratectomy, phototherapeutic keratectomy, laser insitu keratomileusis (LASIK), and the like.
The ability to track or follow movements of a patient""s tissue is recognized as a desirable feature in laser eye surgery systems. Movements of the eye include both voluntary movements and involuntary movements. In other words, even when the patient is holding xe2x80x9csteadyxe2x80x9d fixation on a visual target, eye movement still occurs. Tracking of the eye during laser eye surgery has been proposed to avoid uncomfortable structures which attempt to achieve total immobilization of the eye. Tracking may enhance known laser eye surgery procedures, and may also facilitate new procedures, such as treatment of irregular astigmatism.
A variety of structures and techniques have been proposed for both tracking of eye movements and scanning of a laser beam across the corneal tissue. An exemplary xe2x80x9coffset imagingxe2x80x9d scanning system is described in European Patent Application Publication No. 628298, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This offset imaging system allows a relatively large beam to be accurately directed onto the corneal surface so as to mitigate myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and combinations of these ocular defects, particularly when the scanning or offset imaging system is combined with one or more variable apertures for profiling the laser beam. As described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/274,499, filed Mar. 23, 1999, and entitled Multiple Beam Laser Sculpting System and Method, the laser beam may ideally be separated into a plurality of beamlets to minimize discontinuities adjacent the ablation edges.
Although known scanning systems have proven both effective and safe for resculpting the cornea to improve vision, work in connection with the present invention has shown that integrating eye tracking capabilities into known laser eye surgery systems can present additional challenges. Specifically, laser eye surgery systems having eye tracking capabilities would benefit from enhanced response time of the beam deflection mechanism. Although alternative scanning systems having potentially faster response times have been described, the offset imaging system described above remains popular, possibly in part because of the combination of accuracy of safety provided by this known mechanism.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide improved laser eye surgery systems, devices, and methods. It would be particularly beneficial if these improvements provided enhanced scanning techniques which maintained the accuracy and safety of known scanning systems, and provided faster response times. It would be particularly beneficial if these improvements allowed the incorporation of eye trackers into known laser eye surgery systems, ideally without having to modify the entire optical train and control architecture.
2. The Background Art
As described above, European Patent Application Publication No. 682298 entitled xe2x80x9cSystem for Laser Treatment of Refractive Errorsxe2x80x9d describes an exemplary scanning mechanism for use in laser eye surgery. Alternative scanning mechanisms and related structures and methods are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,669,466; 4,665,913; 5,782,822; 5,599,340; 5,520,679; 4,887,019; 5,391,165; 5,683,379; and 5,505,723; the fall disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention generally provides laser eye surgery systems, methods, and devices. The invention makes use of a two-pivot scanning system for laterally deflecting the laser beam across the corneal surface in two dimensions (sometimes called X-Y scanning). In the exemplary embodiment, an imaging lens pivots about two eccentric pivots having pivotal axes extending along, but disposed outside the laser beam. As the lens pivots along one of the two axes, the beam will follow an arc-shaped path. The eccentric axes are typically perpendicular to the laser beam and are ideally offset from each other about the laser beam axis by about 90xc2x0, so that pivoting of the imaging lens about the second eccentric axis will move the laser along an orthogonal arc-shaped path. The system controller can compensate for these arc-shaped path deflections by adjusting the angular position of the complementary axes, thereby allowing the beam to be accurately directed at a target location throughout a target X-Y region of the corneal surface.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a laser eye surgery system for modifying a cornea of a patient. The system comprises a laser generating a laser beam for selectively ablating the cornea. The laser beam defines a beam axis. A first stage is pivotable relative to the laser about a first axis offset laterally from the beam. A second stage is pivotable relative to the first stage about a second axis offset laterally from the beam. An optical element is mounted to the second stage in an optical path of the laser beam. The optical element deflects the beam laterally with pivoting of the first and second stages.
The optical element will preferably comprise an imaging lens. A controller will often be coupled to the first and second stages so that the stages pivot in response to signals from the controller. The controller may compensate for arc-shaped beam deflection paths of the beam to accurately direct the laser beam at a target location.
Preferably, the first stage will pivot relative to a fixed support structure by driving engagement of a first motor which is fixed relative to a fixed support structure. The first stage may carry a pivotal joint coupling the first stage to a second stage, so that the second eccentric axis moves with the first stage. A second drive motor may be mounted to the first stage, with the second drive motor drivingly engaging the second stage. Sensors will preferably indicate stage angular positions to the controller to ensure targeting accuracy.
In another aspect, the invention provides a laser eye surgery system for modifying a cornea of a patient. The system comprises a laser generating a laser beam for selectively ablating the cornea. The laser beam defines a beam axis. An optical train in an optical path of the laser beam directs the laser beam toward the cornea. A first offset mechanism pivots at least a portion of the optical train about a first eccentric axis. A second offset mechanism pivots at least a portion of the optical train about a second eccentric axis. The first eccentric axis and the second eccentric axis extend along the beam axis and are offset relative to each other circumferentially about the beam, often by 90xc2x0.
In another aspect, the invention provides a scanning system for use with a laser eye surgery system. The laser system has a laser producing a laser beam for selectively resculpting a cornea according to signals from a controller. The scanning system comprises a first stage which pivots relative to the laser about a first axis in response to the control signals. The first axis is offset laterally from the beam axis. A second stage is pivotably mounted to the first stage. The second stage pivots about a second axis offset laterally from the beam axis in response to the control signals. An optical element is mounted to the second stage in an optical path of the laser beam to deflect the beam laterally according to the control signals so as to effect the desired resculpting.
In a method aspect, the invention allows redirecting of a corneal resculpting laser beam. The method comprises deflecting a beam along a substantially arc-shaped path by rotating an optical element about a first pivot or axis offset laterally from the beam. The beam is deflected along a substantially arc-shaped path by rotating the optical element about a second pivot or axis offset laterally from the beam, and offset circumferentially about the beam from the first axis. Typically, the pivots are offset by about 90xc2x0 relative to the beam. The two intercepting arc-shaped beam deflection paths which this method can provide allow substantially rectangular coverage of a patient""s cornea.

Two-pivot scanning for laser eye surgery


Various embodiments provide an intelligent adaptive content canvas that can enable users to access content, such as photos and videos, and consume the content in an adaptive environment that tailors the user experience in accordance with various parameters. The user experience is personalized to the user and is adaptively predictive in a manner that attempts to surface content that the user would likely wish to consume.

Users typically create content, such as videos and photos, with the expectation that they will derive value or enjoyment from them at some point in the future. Often times a user's content can be distributed across a variety of sources and devices. For example, users may have a portion of their content stored on one or more local devices, as well as at other remote sources such as social networking sites, online services, content aggregation sites, and the like.
In order to consume their content, users typically are forced to manually pull the content from these different associated sources. For example, if a user wishes to browse their locally-stored content, they must access their content locally. Likewise, if the user wishes to browse their remotely-stored content, they must access their content individually, at each remote source.

Adaptive presentation of content based on user action


A controller for a vehicle seat for optimally controlling the posture of a vehicle seat. An amount of a running condition of the vehicle is detected, and a controlled variable for a posture of the seat for appropriately holding an inertial force acting on an occupant seated in the seat is determined in correspondence with the amount of the running condition of the vehicle detected. In addition, an amount of displacement of a posture of the vehicle is detected, and the posture of the seat is controlled on the basis of the controlled variable for the posture of the seat and the amount of displacement of the posture of the vehicle. Since the posture of the seat is controlled in correspondence with not only the running condition of the vehicle but postural displacement of the vehicle, the holding characteristic of the driver's seat improves and permits driving with a comfortable and more stable posture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for accommodating a sitting attitude of a vehicle occupant. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for securing a comfortable sitting attitude of a vehicle occupant by adjusting the sitting attitude in correspondence with an inertial force acting on a vehicle occupant during the running of a vehicle, or by adjusting the sitting attitude such that the occupant can hold with a comfortable posture the inertial force acting during the running of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a vehicle is provided with seats for occupants to be seated in, and these seats are fixed to a vehicle body so that they do not move when the vehicle is running. Recently, high-speed running has become possible in conjunction with the improved performance of the vehicles, and maneuvering stability has improved substantially. With respect to vehicle seats, it has become possible to adjust their positions in conformity with the physique of the occupant, and improvements have been made in terms of the occupants' feeling of being seated in the seat. However, since the seats do not move during running, depending on a running condition of the vehicle, e.g., when the vehicle turns, an inertial force (centrifugal force) occurring during a turn has caused a slippage in the seated condition of the occupant, thereby imparting an uncomfortable feeling to the occupant. To overcome this problem, vehicle seats have been proposed in which the inertial force is detected by a sensor (an acceleration sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a revolution sensor, or the like) during the running of the vehicle, and the seated condition of the occupant is adjusted by moving the seat on the basis of a detected value thereof, thereby to overcome the uncomfortable feeling (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 84232/1982 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 97040/1983). These prior art techniques attempt to constantly maintain a comfortable seated condition by moving the seat in a transverse direction (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle, hereafter the same) by following a movement of the vehicle, e.g., the movement of the vehicle during a turn. In addition, there is another technique in which the posture of the seat is changed in the transverse direction by detecting the height of the vehicle (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 237/1991). Thus, the posture of the seat has hitherto been moved only in the transverse direction.
In the vehicle, however, a force acts on the suspension and the like in correspondence with the inertial force, with the result that the posture of the vehicle body changes. For this reason, even if the position of the seat is controlled in the transverse direction on the basis of the inertial force determined from the vehicle speed, the turning direction of the vehicle, and the like in the conventional manner, since a change in the posture of the vehicle occurs, there has been the problem that the seat cannot be controlled in conjunction with a change in the posture of the vehicle and to an optimum postural position suited to driving.
In addition, when the occupant moves passively after getting in the vehicle or the like, since there are cases where information obtained from the space sense, e.g., the sense of equilibrium, the visual sense, the positional sense, and the like, differs from information stored in the brain, so that the occupant can lapse into a condition inconsistent with a condition that can be estimated on the basis of his or her past experience stored in the brain. Hence, it is known that some drivers become carsick for the above-described reason.
Accordingly, even if the posture of the seat is controlled in correspondence with the running condition of the vehicle, there are cases where the information stored in the occupant's brain does not accord with the space sense resulting from the control of the posture of the seat, thereby possibly causing discomfort such as carsickness. Whether or not the discomfort such as carsickness occurs depends on the occupant (individual). If the posture of the seat is only controlled univocally in conjunction with a change in the posture of the vehicle, it is difficult to secure optimum postures for all the occupants, and such a measure does not overcome the discomfort of all the occupants.
Furthermore, when the running condition of the vehicle is maintained at the time of changing a lane during high-speed running or at the time of running on a rough road, a winding road, or the like, the angular velocity of the steering wheel is large, and the steering wheel is turned back clockwise or counterclockwise within a short period of time. In such a case, the movement of the vehicle does not coincide with the rotational angle of the steering wheel. Hence, even if the control of the seat posture is effected in correspondence with the rotational angle of the steering wheel, or in correspondence with the movement of the vehicle, the driver can possibly feel discomfort.
Moreover, at the time of starting (accelerating), braking (decelerating), changing a lane during high-speed running, and turning on a rough road, the direction of the inertial force changes substantially during a short period of time, so that the posture of the vehicle changes substantially in both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle. For this reason, it is necessary to effect control within a short period of time. In addition, if the control of the seat posture is effected with respect to the transverse direction only, a postural displacement in the longitudinal direction remains in the occupant. Hence, it is difficult to secure an optimum posture during driving, so that such a measure does not overcome the discomfort of the occupant.

System for accommodating sitting attitude of vehicle occupant


A method of producing amino acid metal chelates includes producing an amino acid ligand by enzymatically hydrolyzing bacterial cells, and reacting the amino acid ligand with a metal cation.

The present invention relates to methods of producing amino acid metal chelates.
Divalent cation metals are known to form chelate complexes with alpha amino acids. These complexes may be obtained by reacting the cation metals with pure amino acids (e.g., single and specific amino acids, such as methionine) as ligands. Alternatively, these complexes may be obtained by reacting the cation metals with a hydrolysate of a particular protein source.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,724 describes a method of preparing metal amino acid complexes in which amino acids are obtained by hydrolyzing protein of vegetable or animal origin. The protein is hydrolyzed with an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, and the resulting hydrolysate is reacted with a metal species, such as zinc oxide, to obtain the amino acid complexes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,541,051 describes a method of preparing metal amino acid complexes in which amino acids are obtained by hydrolyzing soy protein. The protein is hydrolyzed with an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, and the resulting hydrolysate is reacted with a metal species, such as zinc oxide, to obtain the amino acid complexes.
Performing acid hydrolysis of feed proteins to obtain amino acid ligands is asserted to provide an economic advantage over using pure amino acids as ligands. However, performing acid hydrolysis can be disadvantageous because the use of strong mineral acids requires special equipment and safety precautions. In addition, the dissociated anion from the strong mineral acid (e.g., sulfate or chloride) is likely to remain in the hydrolysate and dilute the amino acid metal chelate that is sought to be obtained. Efforts to remove such anions from the hydrolysate are likely to increase costs, and the by-product salt containing the anion must be disposed of in some manner. Moreover, to obtain complete hydrolysis by acid hydrolysis requires expensive high pressure tanks as well as a high input of energy as heat and pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,354 describes a method of preparing amino acid transition metal chelates from lipoproteins and transition metal salts. Amino acids are obtained by hydrolyzing lipoproteins obtained from, e.g., fractured cell walls from microbes generated in the biological synthesis of amino acids. The lipoproteins are hydrolyzed with a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide, and the resulting hydrolysate is reacted with a metal species, such as zinc sulfate, to obtain the amino acid transition metal chelates.
Employing base hydrolysis to obtain amino acid metal chelates poses similar problems to those described above with respect to acid hydrolysis. In addition, base hydrolysis may convert amino acids from L-isomers to D-isomers, making them nutritionally unavailable for protein production.
It is known to employ enzyme hydrolysis in various particular contexts. For example, it is known to hydrolyze starch using amylitic enzymes, to hydrolyze cellulose using cellulase and to hydrolyze proteins using proteinases. As evidenced by the absence of a commercially-used process employing such means, enzyme hydrolysis is not known to be particularly effective in preparing amino acid or short peptide ligands for use in producing amino acid metal chelates.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,540 describes a method of preparing metal proteinates from protein hydrolysates and metal salts. Protein hydrolysates are obtained by enzymatically hydrolyzing sources of protein such as yeast. The sources of protein are hydrolyzed using proteases. Yeast is believed to be an unacceptable source of protein for use in enzymatic hydrolysis to form amino acid ligands for chelating with metals (e.g., for use in feedstuffs) because yeast has a relatively low protein content and high purine content.

Method of producing amino acid metal chelates


Embodiments include an imaging system that includes a collimator support base and a detector assembly. The collimator support base is configured to interchangeably accept a slit aperture collimator and a pinhole aperture collimator. The slit aperture collimator has either a corresponding septa assembly or a corresponding crossed-slit collimator. The detector assembly is configured to detect collimated gamma rays emanating from a subject in a field of view of the imaging system and generate one or more signals in response to the detected gamma rays. Methods of adjusting performance of imaging systems are also provided.

The invention relates generally to non-invasive imaging such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. More particularly, the invention relates to swappable collimators for use in non-invasive imaging.
SPECT is used for a wide variety of imaging applications, such as medical imaging. In general, SPECT systems are imaging systems that are configured to generate an image based upon the impact of photons (generated by a nuclear decay event) against a gamma-ray detector. In medical and research contexts, these detected photons may be processed to formulate an image of organs or tissues beneath the skin.
To produce an image, one or more detector assemblies may be rotated around a subject. Detector assemblies are typically comprised of various structures working together to receive and process the incoming photons. For instance, the detector assembly may utilize a scintillator assembly (e.g., large sodium iodide scintillator plates) to convert the photons into light for detection by an optical sensor. This scintillator assembly may be coupled by a light guide to multiple photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) or other light sensors that convert the light from the scintillator assembly into an electric signal. In addition to the scintillator assembly-PMT combination, pixilated solid-state direct conversion detectors (e.g., CZT) may also be used to generate electric signals from the impact of the photons. This electric signal can be easily transferred, converted and processed by electronic modules in a data acquisition module to facilitate viewing and manipulation by clinicians.
Typically, SPECT systems further include a collimator assembly that may be attached to the front of the gamma-ray detector. In general, the collimator assembly is designed to absorb photons such that only photons traveling in certain directions impact the detector assembly. For example, multi-hole collimators comprised of multiple, small-diameter channels separated by lead septa have been used. With these multi-hole collimators, photons that are not traveling through the channels in a direction generally parallel to the lead septa are absorbed. In addition, while parallel-hole collimators are typically used, collimators also may have converging holes for image magnification or diverging holes for minifying the image. For improved resolution, a pinhole aperture collimator may be used. Pinhole aperture collimators are generally collimators with one or more small pinhole apertures therein. By way of example, an improved image resolution may be obtained with a pinhole aperture collimator, e.g., if the subject is closer to the pinhole than the pinhole is to the gamma-ray detector.
SPECT systems may be used for a variety of different applications each of which may require different resolutions and sensitivities. By way of example, small organ imaging may require higher resolution and lower sensitivity, whereas imaging a large volume (such as for possible lesions) typically may require higher sensitivity with lower resolution. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an imaging system with adjustable performance based, for example, on the particular application.


There is a method of capturing, removing or collecting the particulate matter from a fluid containing a toxic liquid reaction and particulate matter produced from the reaction. The method includes partly or completely disposing a screen into the toxic fluid. Mixing the toxic fluid allowing the particulate matter to contact the screen. Moving the screen to capture the particulate matter on the screen. Removing the particulate matter from the screen by washing or scraping. There is also a cleaning apparatus to capture, remove or collect particulate matter from a toxic fluid. A cleaning apparatus contains at least a screen and a structure securing the screen. The cleaning apparatus can optionally include a scraping or washing means, a drive means, a flow inducer and a housing structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus to capture, remove or collect unusable products, more particularly, particulate matter from a fluid containing a liquid reaction. The liquid reaction of the fluid further containing unwanted waste products, more particularly, particulate matter.
In particular, this invention uses a screen to capture the particulate matter from a liquid reaction. The screen is a hand-held device or the screen is part of an apparatus, which may optionally include scrapers, drivers, rollers and artificial flow inducers.
More particularly, the hand-held screen or the screen apparatus is partially or completely disposed into a fluid and contacting the fluid such that it captures, removes or collects particulate matter from the fluid.
2. General Background and State of the Art
Many industrial chemical processes have by-products in the form of particulate matter, which impedes or ceases further processing if the by-product is not removed, captured or collected from the reaction. In particular, particulate matter (PM), are small solids suspended in water or liquid solution. Particulate matter vary in size, shape, density, and electrical charge. Often the PM disrupts the normal chemical reaction or prevents recycling or regeneration of a fluid system.
Regeneration of a system, for example, regeneration of starting materials from the products of a chemical reaction, prevents otherwise constant rejuvenation by having to purchase and add new starting materials. The endless process of adding new starting materials is expensive and not cost effective. In addition, constant rejuvenation of starting materials poses various potential health and safety issues associated with the disposal of the "spent" products. For example, the health and safety of handling and storing large quantities of a reagent/chemical, or waste.
Therefore, it is advantageous to improve methods to capture, remove or collect particulate matter (PM) from a fluid containing a liquid reaction to prevent further supplying the reaction with new starting materials.
It is further advantageous to capture, remove or collect any or all PM from such fluids to allow or improve the regeneration of the starting materials.
Further, effective regeneration of the starting materials is cost effective and prevents having to safely store any waste or unwanted products of a liquid reaction.

Method and apparatus to clean particulate matter from a toxic fluid


A shutter release device for a camera including a shutter release mechanism which is mechanically released. The shutter release device is provided with a release rod which is pushed down to operated a shutter of the camera, a delay member moved by a predetermined distance relative to the release member to release the shutter, a restraint mechanism and a restraint release mechanism. The shutter release mechanism is controlled by the delay member. The restraint mechanism has an engaging leg formed on the delay member and a restraint projection formed on a base plate, and the engaging leg is engaged with the projection to restrain movement of the delay member. The release restraint mechanism has a release slant formed on the release rod and engaged with the engaging leg to deform the leg so that it is released by the restraint projection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shutter release device for a camera having a mechanical shutter and an automatic focusing device operated by a distance measuring signal transmitted from a distance measuring device. In particular, it relates to a delay mechanism for the camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
In this kind of camera, after operation of the automatic focusing device is completed by depressing the shutter button, if the shutter is not released, a problem such as movement out of focus or camera shake occurs. To avoid these problems, where a camera is not provided with an electric release device, but with a mechanical release device, the camera must be provided with a device for delaying the release of the shutter until after the operations of the measuring device and the automatic focusing device are completed. A conventional mechanical delay device, however, requires a large mechanism, such as a governor mechanism, which is a hindrance to the miniaturization and reduction of the dimensions of the camera.
Further, this kind of mechanical release device is conventionally assembled in such a manner that an engaging lever is attached to other levers, these levers are rotatably fitted to a support pin, and then end portions of a torsion coil spring are attached to these levers. Further, a screw is threadingly engaged in the support pin to prevent a detaching of the levers from the support pin. This assembling operation is obviously complicated and very cumbersome.


A neutral brake system for use in a hydrostatic transmission to automatically apply a brake when the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral. The neutral brake system includes a hydraulically-released, spring-activated brake mechanism in direct fluid communication with the main hydraulic passages which form a hydraulic circuit between the pump and the motor. When the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral, a brake spring biases a brake lever into contact with a pair of friction pads to engage a brake disk splined to the output shaft of the motor to stop the vehicle. When the hydrostatic transmission is shifted out of neutral, a charge of hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic circuit causes a piston within a brake release chamber to override the biasing force of the brake spring, and to urge the brake lever out of contact with the friction pads such that the friction pads are disengaged from the brake disk, and the output shaft of the output shaft of the motor may freely rotate. A throttling orifice is provided in the hydraulic circuit to restrict hydraulic flow from the brake release chamber to prevent abrupt engaging of the brake mechanism when the transmission is shifted to neutral.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hydrostatic transmissions intended primarily for use in the lawn and garden industry on riding lawn mowers, lawn and garden tractors and the like, but may also be applied to larger implements and vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a neutral brake system for a hydrostatic transmission to automatically apply a brake when the transmission is shifted to neutral.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrostatic transmissions transmit rotary mechanical motion from an internal combustion engine to fluid motion, typically oil or hydraulic fluid, and then back to rotary mechanical motion to rotate a pair of drive axles in order to drive a vehicle. Hydrostatic transmissions generally include a pump, such as a variable displacement pump, driven by the engine. The pump drives a motor, such as a fixed displacement motor, through a hydraulic circuit between the pump and the motor. The output speed of the hydrostatic transmission is typically controlled by varying the displacement of the pump using a movable track ring or swash plate. An example of such a hydrostatic transmission is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,966, assigned to the assignee of the present application, and expressly incorporated herein by reference.
When the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral, the displacement of the pump is zero, there is substantially no hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit, and the motor is idle. When the hydrostatic transmission is shifted out of neutral, the displacement of the pump provides a charge of hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic circuit to drive the motor. The motor in turn drives a pair of drive axles through a reduction gear train and a differential mechanism.
The motor, reduction gear train, differential mechanism, and drive axles are disengaged from the engine when the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral, and, if the vehicle is parked on an inclined surface it will be free to roll downhill. Typically, a user sets a manual parking brake or keeps pressure applied to a foot brake when the transmission is shifted to neutral to prevent the vehicle from rolling downhill.
Problematically, vehicles having hydrostatic transmissions with a manual parking brake and/or a foot brake are dependent upon the user to actuate the brakes to prevent the vehicle from moving when the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral.
Other known hydrostatic transmissions include a hydraulic circuit between a motor and a pump, with the displacement of the pump controlled by a control system such as a hydraulic servo, which may be part of a second hydraulic circuit. Typically, these hydrostatic transmissions also include complex arrangements of servos, multiple valves, and control levers. For example, a user may manually apply or release a hydraulic friction brake after the user first manually actuates a servo and valve control mechanism which destrokes the variable displacement pump to maintain the transmission in a minimum drive condition. Alternatively, a control valve located in a second hydraulic circuit may be responsive to a pilot hydraulic pressure in the main line hydraulic circuit. The control valve in turn controls the hydraulic fluid supply to a hydraulic servo, also located in the second hydraulic circuit, which servo controls the pump, in order to prevent the main line pressure from substantially exceeding a predetermined level.
The foregoing hydrostatic transmissions are disadvantageous because they are complex and require several components such as, for example, a second hydraulic fluid source, servo devices, and multiple control and shuttle valves. Maintenance of such transmissions can also be time-consuming and expensive. Further, such hydrostatic transmissions are not easily retrofittable into existing hydrostatic transmissions.
What is needed is a neutral brake system for a hydrostatic transmission which is automatically engaged to stop the vehicle from moving when the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral.
A further need is for a neutral brake system which does not have a complex design, such that the number and complexity of the components which comprise the brake system is reduced, to simplify and reduce the cost of maintenance.
Still another need is for a neutral brake system which may be easily retrofitted into existing hydrostatic transmissions.
The present invention is a neutral brake system for use with a hydrostatic transmission to automatically apply a brake when the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral, including a hydraulically-released, spring-activated brake mechanism, the brake mechanism in fluid communication with, and controlled by, the main hydraulic passages which form a hydraulic circuit between the pump and the motor of the hydrostatic transmission.
A brake release cylinder having a piston therein is communicated directly to the closed hydraulic circuit between the pump and the motor by a pair of brake passages via a shuttle valve. When the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit is substantially zero, and a brake spring biases a brake lever into contact with a friction pad. The friction pad engages a brake disk splined to the output shaft of the motor to stop rotation of the output shaft, and to thereby stop the vehicle from moving. When the hydrostatic transmission is shifted out of neutral, the pump produces a charge of hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic circuit, and a piston within the brake release cylinder overrides the bias force of the brake spring, and urges the brake lever out of contact with the friction pad to release the brake disk such that the output shaft may freely rotate.
In one form thereof, a brake system in combination with a hydrostatic transmission is provided, the hydrostatic transmission having a hydraulic circuit between a pump and a motor, the brake system including a hydraulically-released, spring-activated brake mechanism in direct fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit controlling the hydraulic brake mechanism.
In another form thereof, a hydrostatic transmission is provided, including a pump, a motor in fluid communication with the pump, the pump and motor forming a hydraulic circuit, and a hydraulically-released, spring-activated brake mechanism in direct fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit controlling the hydraulic brake mechanism.
The advantage of this arrangement is that the brake mechanism is automatically engaged when the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral, obviating the need for a user to manually set a parking brake or to keep pressure on a foot brake to stop the vehicle from moving when the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral.
A further advantage of this arrangement is that, because the brake mechanism is in direct fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit so that the number and complexity of the brake mechanism components is substantially reduced, which in turn reduces assembly and maintenance costs.
Still another advantage of this arrangement is that the brake mechanism may be easily retrofitted into existing hydrostatic transmissions.


A rotary, mulching lawn mower blade, comprising a central mounting portion having opposing ends and being for connection to an external drive structure, and a pair of end portions, one end portion being disposed at each central mounting portion end, the end portions each having at least two cutting members disposed at spatially vertically and horizontally separate locations with respect to each other, and the cutting members each having a cutting surface and a deflecting surface.

This invention relates to cutting apparatus, and methods. More particularly, this invention relates to lawn mower blades which perform a mulching function. The cutting blade apparatus of this invention is useful, in conjunction with a standard lawn mower, for cutting and mulching grass or similar vegetation without the necessity of bagging or otherwise accumulating the grass clippings after the cutting process is completed.
In the past, various devices and/or methods have been used and proposed to cut grass and perform related lawn maintenance. However, these devices and methods have significant limitations and shortcomings, with respect to precision cutting of blades of grass with the simultaneous reduction in clipped grass blade size. Specifically, although various mower blade configurations exist which decrease blade noise, increase blade safety, and increase blade maneuverability, they do not provide structures which maximize mulching function.
Despite the need in the art for a mulching lawn mower blade, which overcomes the limitations and problems of the prior art, none insofar as is known has been proposed or developed. Accordingly, it an object of the present invention to provide a an improved blade structure which is reliable, durable, inexpensive, and effective at precision cutting grass and mulching the grass clippings, and which overcomes the limitations and shortcomings of the prior art. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a mulching blade structure which maximizes the cutting of clippings by increasing clipping lift during the cutting process. A final object of this invention is to provide a mulching blade which is usable on standard, unmodified mower decks with a side or back discharge outlet, as well as with specialized mulching mowers.


An electrical pulse circuit is disclosed. The electrical pulse circuit is in connection with a first pair of electrodes defining a first gap between ends thereof and a second pair of electrodes defining a second gap between ends thereof. The second gap is disposed proximate to the first gap. The circuit includes a controller, a first electrical pulse source in power connection with the first pair of electrodes, and a second electrical pulse source in power connection with the second pair of electrodes. The first electrical pulse source is productive of a high voltage low current arc across the first gap in response to the controller and the second electrical pulse source is productive of a low voltage high current arc across the second gap in response to the controller and the high voltage arc.

The present invention relates generally to pulse circuits, and more particularly to high current pulse circuits.
Electric arc devices are used in a variety of applications, including series capacitor protection, high power switches, acoustic generators, shock wave generators, pulsed plasma thrusters and arc mitigation devices. Such devices include two or more main electrodes separated by a gap of air or another gas. A bias voltage is applied to the main electrodes across the gap.
One means to trigger such electric arc devices is via a high current pulse. For example, a high current pulse source can provide the high current pulse to trigger a plasma gun to generate conductive ablative plasma vapors between the main electrodes. The high current pulse source can also be used in devices such as rail guns, spark gap switches, lighting ballasts, and series capacitor protection, for example.
The high current pulse is typically greater than about 5,000 Amps (5 kA), such as to generate adequate plasma vapors, for example. Additionally, high voltage, greater than about 5,000 Volts (5 kV), is utilized to overcome a breakdown voltage of air and initiate the high current pulse across pulse electrodes, such as plasma gun electrodes for example. Typical high current pulses may be known as lightning pulses that can be defined as having an 8 microsecond rise time and a 20 microsecond fall time. Circuits to generate such high current pulses commonly utilize costly high-energy capacitors that can have capacitive values in the millifarad range. While existing high current pulse sources are suitable for their intended purpose, there is a need in the art for a high current pulse source that overcomes these drawbacks.


A backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device and a method of assembling the same which makes it easy to inspect for impurities and for reducing damage to an optical sheet. The backlight unit includes a lamp assembly; a light guide panel for providing the light from the lamp assembly incident to a display panel; and a bottom cover for supporting the lamp assembly and the light guide panel, wherein the distance between the lamp assembly located at opposite edges of the bottom cover is longer than the length of the light guide panel.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2001-83245 filed on Dec. 22, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device. The present invention is also directed to a method of assembling the backlight unit which makes it easy to inspect for impurities and reduces the damage to an optical sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal display panel consisting of a plurality of liquid crystal cells arranged in a type of matrix and a plurality of control switches for switching a video signal to be supplied to each liquid crystal cell, and for controlling the transmittance of the light supplied from a backlight unit with the liquid crystal display panel to display a desired picture on a screen.
When compared to a Cathode Ray Tube, such a liquid crystal display device is possible to be made in a small size so that it can be applied to Office Automation Equipment such as a photocopying machine, etc., and Potable devices such as a mobile phone and a pager, etc., as well as a personal computer PC and a notebook computer.
A light guide panel method is widely used as a backlight unit, which supplies light to the liquid crystal display device, since it is required to make the screen of the liquid crystal display device bigger in size, better in displaying color and more elegant in appearance.
Accordingly, there has actively been carried out research and development for high and uniform brightness, thinness and lightness of a backlight unit.
Referring to FIG. 1, a backlight unit of a conventional liquid crystal display device includes a lamp assembly 10 consisting of a lamp 10a for generating light and a lamp housing 10b installed in the shape of a cover for lamp 10a; a light guide panel 14 for converting the light incident from the lamp assembly 10 into a planar light source; a reflection plate 12 located at the bottom thereof for reflecting the light, which progresses toward a lower surface or a side surface of the light guide panel 14, to an upper surface; a bottom cover 20 installed under the reflection plate 12; optical sheets 16 for diffusing the light passed through the light guide plate 14 and controlling the direction in which the light progresses; and a main support 18 mounted on the optical sheets 16.
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp CCFL is mainly used for the lamp 10a. The light generated in the lamp 10a is incident to the light guide panel 14 through an incidence surface in the side surface of the light guide panel 14. Two or three lamps 10a can be installed to achieve high brightness of the liquid crystal display device. The inside surface of the lamp housing 10b has a reflective surface for reflecting the light from the lamp 10a to the light guide panel 14. The reflection plate 12 is installed facing the rear of the light guide panel 14. The light guide panel 14 receives the light incident from the lamp 10a to reach a long distance from the lamp 10a. The light guide panel 14 is normally formed of an acrylic acid resin PMMA, which has good strength so as not to be easily deformed or broken while providing good transmittance. The reflection plate 12 reflects the light incident to itself through the rear of the light guide panel 14 toward the light guide panel 14, thereby reducing light loss. The light transmitted to the lower surface and the side surface of the light guide panel 14 is reflected at the reflection plate 12 and progresses toward the surface of the light guide panel 14 from which light emanates. The bottom cover 20 is located under the reflection plate 12 for supporting the components of the backlight unit on the bottom cover 20.
The optical sheets 16 is composed of a first diffusion sheet, a first and a second prism sheet for controlling the progress direction of the light passed though the first diffusion sheet, and a second diffusion sheet for diffusing the light passed though the first and the second prism sheet. The light passing through the light-emanating surface of the light guide panel 14 is incident to the first diffusion sheet among the optical sheets 16 to be diffused. On the other hand, when the light is perpendicularly incident to the liquid crystal display panel (not shown), it has a higher light efficiency. For this, two forward prism sheets are deposited for the progress angle of the light coming out of the light guide panel 14 to be perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel. The light passed through the first and the second prism sheet is incident to the liquid crystal display panel via the second diffusion sheet.
A main support 18 is a major supporting part of the backlight unit and supports the whole of the backlight unit and the liquid crystal display panel.
In conjunction with FIG. 2, there is explained below a method of assembling the backlight unit with such a configuration.
Referring to FIG. 2, the backlight unit is assembled in reverse direction, and first of all the optical sheets 16 are disposed on the main support 18, and the first diffusion sheet, the two prism sheets and the second optical sheet are sequentially deposited on the main support 18. Then, the lamp assembly 10 and the reflection plate 12 is combined to both sides of the light guide panel 14. The reflection plate 12 is mounted on one surface of the light guide panel 14 and inside the lamp housing 10a. The light guide panel 14 combined with the lamp assembly 10 and the reflection plate 12 in this way is then assembled on the optical sheets 16. Then, after the bottom cover 20 is mounted on the light guide panel 14, the wiring of the backlight unit is adjusted for supplying voltage generating a light to complete the backlight unit. An liquid crystal display panel is assembled to the backlight unit assembled in such a way.
If the backlight unit is assembled in a reverse direction, it is not possible to inspect for impurities generated in the course of its assembly. That is, while the inspection of generated impurities can be carried out through a lighting inspection, the light assembly 10 being the light source required for the lighting inspection is assembled after the optical sheets 16 are assembled. Accordingly, because the lighting inspection is carried out after the optical sheets 16 have been assembled, it becomes difficult to eliminate the impurities generated at the optical sheets 16. Therefore, a JIG that irradiates light for inspecting whether or not impurities is generated, is separately required. Also, when assembling the backlight unit in the reverse direction, because the optical sheets 16 are deposited on the main support 18 before anything else, damage of the optical sheets 16 is likely. Moreover, because the wire of the backlight unit is long, it becomes difficult to adjust the wire at the end of the assembly. Thus, there arises the necessity of a new assembly method of the backlight unit to solve these problems.

Backlight unit of liquid crystal display device and method of assembling the same


A monitor bank consists of test one time programmable memory that is programmed distinctively from functional one time programmable memory in order to determine whether the functional one time programmable memory has or will program successfully. In a specific embodiment, each monitor bank consists of a first eFuse configured to expectedly never blow, a second eFuse configured to expectedly always blow, and at least a third eFuse configured to be more difficult to blow than the first eFuse, but easier to blow than the second eFuse. The method of determining whether functional eFuses have or will be programmed successfully is described: programming a monitor bank; sensing whether the test eFuses have blown; creating a monitor bank bit line blow pattern; determining an anticipated bit line blow pattern; comparing the two patterns; and determining that the functional eFuses will not blow successfully if the patterns do not match.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to one time programmable memories (eFuses (electrically programmable fuses), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) circuits, etc.). More specifically, this invention relates to an one time programmable memory monitor bank consisting of a plurality of test one time programmable circuits, each circuit having varying parameters, selected from a plurality of possible parameters, and utilized to evaluate whether functional one time programmable memory have or will program (i.e. blow) successfully.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic systems increasingly require function to be enabled, disabled, or modified after semiconductor chips used in the electronic systems have been manufactured or have been placed into commerce. For example, a common chip may be designed to serve multiple applications, the chip originally having circuitry to support all of the multiple applications. After manufacture of the chip, eFuses can be blown to personalize the chip for a particular specific application. For a second example, sometimes chips are manufactured imperfectly and portions of the chip are unusable. A computer processor chip may be designed to have a 128 KB (kilobyte) cache, but testing may determine that only 64 KB of the 128 KB is functional. If the remainder of the chip is functional, the chip may still be used, but information must be stored on the chip so that no attempt to use the nonfunctional 64 KB portion of the 128 KB cache is performed.
In modern semiconductor chips eFuses are often used to store such information. An eFuse is electronically programmable, and may be programmed by blowing the eFuse after a chip is manufactured. In many applications, the eFuse is blown even after an electronic system utilizing the chip has been in operation for some time.
An eFuse comprises a silicided polysilicon conductor. Silicide has been widely used in semiconductor products to reduce resistance of a polysilicon conductor, for example polysilicon gates used in Field Effect Transistors (FETs), or a doped silicon region, such as a source or drain of a FET. An eFuse is blown by directing a current of sufficient magnitude and duration through the eFuse to remove by melting or electromigration at least a portion of the silicide between a first end and a second end of the eFuse. Removal of at least a portion of the silicide changes an electrical resistance between the first end and the second end of the eFuse. However other mechanisms may also be used to blow an eFuse. Descriptions of eFuses can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,902, "Enhanced eFuses by the local degradation of the fuse link", by Chandrasekharan Kothandaraman, et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,499, "System for programming fuse structure by electromigration of silicide enhanced by creating temperature gradient", by Chandrasekharan Kothandaraman, et al.
Normal process and/or manufacturing variations in device components utilized in eFuse circuits may increase the difficulty to sense that an eFuse has been successfully blown. For example these variations may be, but not limited to: transistor channel length (i.e. fluctuations in the distance between the source and drain of a transistor gives rise to variations in drain current) gate width (i.e. fluctuations in the gate width of a transistor gives rise to variations in drain current) and threshold voltage. Some of the causes of threshold voltage variation are: worsening short channel effect, variations in gate oxide thickness, variations in FET currents due to temperature gradients, etc.
Along with the processing and/or manufacturing variations, the ability to blow and sense eFuses also varies with environmental conditions. For example these variations may be, but not limited to: temperature, biasing, voltage, noise, etc.
Wear out mechanisms common in silicon devices can also add variability to device characteristics over time, making the ability to blow and sense eFuses difficult. For example these variations may be, but not limited to: hot electron degradation and negative bias temperature instability (NBTI). These variations have, in previous electronic systems having eFuses, resulted in eFuses failing to blow, causing logic and other design faults.
eFuses are subjected to natural or environmental component degradations, tolerances, or errors that cause the ability to blow and sense eFuses difficult. It is also increasingly common for electrical systems to utilize eFuses that are to be programmed after the device has left control of the manufacturer. Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus that determines whether eFuse programming will be or has been successful.

Method and apparatus to monitor circuit variation effects on electrically programmable fuses

International Business Machines Corporation