Techniques and equipment are provided to allow Multimedia Message Service (MMS) communication between applications on a platform on a mobile station and third party websites or web servers by using a hybridized architectural design of MMS and BREW services. The following communications are provided: communication from a BREW application on a first mobile station to a BREW application on a second mobile station, communication from a BREW application on a mobile station to an application server or website, and communication from an application server or website to a BREW application on a mobile station.

A. Growth of Mobile Communications.
In recent years, cellular or personal communication service type mobile devices have emerged as a must-have appliance among mobile professionals and consumers alike, growing in popularity every year since they were first introduced. The public has come to accept that mobile communication service enhances business and personal communications and may contribute to personal security. Consequently, mobile communication is becoming increasingly popular. Although originally designed and deployed to offer voice-grade telephone services, more recently the mobile stations and the networks that provide service through them have offered an expanding array of data communication services and other related services.
Manufacturers have developed wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, with increasing processing power, fast approaching the computing capabilities of devices such as personal computers and personal digital assistants ("PDAs"). Because of this increased processing power, mobile stations actually can be programmed to perform a wide range of application functions, for example related to tools for productivity enchantment, gaming, entertainment and the like.
B. Native Applications.
A wireless carrier typically has at least two types of applications resident on the mobile station: native applications and platform based applications. There are many applications developed by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for the wireless carrier that run natively or directly on the mobile station hardware and operating system. For example, a Short Message Service (SMS) application (or "client") allows a user to send text messages, and a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) application (or "client") allows the user to send picture messages. These are known as "native applications."
C. Platform Based Applications.
Mobile station hardware may be proprietary, and some associated software (such as a mobile operating system) may also be proprietary. Further, the exact hardware and software may change from one mobile station to another mobile station. Thus, it is convenient to have a software platform (or interface or shell) that resides logically between, and provides a standardized interface between the mobile station hardware and mobile station operating system on one hand, and third party applications on the other hand. The software platform typically is a published standard. As a result, virtually any software developer (a third party, or a value added services provider) can write application programming for the software platform, and the application program will run properly on all mobile stations implementing the software platform. A software platform may be implemented as an "Application Program Interface" (API). Different versions of the software platform may be designed for different models of mobile stations, thus providing a standard interface for the third party application.
Qualcomm applications, for example, typically utilize the Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless ("BREW") platform or API. BREW was developed by Qualcomm, and resides between the chip system software and a third party platform application, making the mobile station functionality available to the platform application without requiring the third party developer to have the chip system source code or even a direct relationship with a device manufacturer. In this way, third party developers are able to rapidly develop a wide variety of small, transportable applications in familiar programming languages such as C and C++. For example, Verizon Wireless subscribers are able to download these third party platform applications over the Verizon Wireless network, and run them on any BREW-enabled mobile station. Alternatively, Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME™) is another runtime environment targeted to a wide range of consumer products, which some cellular telephone developers are utilizing as a standardized API.
In this written description, Verizon Wireless will be used as an exemplary wireless carrier, BREW will be used as an exemplary platform, and "Goodpictures" will be used as an exemplary, and imaginary, third party application for running on the platform.
Thus, for example, a Goodpictures application may utilize a BREW platform to operate on a mobile station subscribing to Verizon. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will be enabled to use the disclosed invention for other applications, other platforms, and other wireless carriers. Many third party applications are deployed on the mobile station as BREW clients, or platform applications. For example, Goodpictures may handle pictures on a mobile station. These are known as "BREW applications."
D. Brew Application Communications.
Today, applications running on a BREW platform send and receive multimedia messages using a direct Internet Protocol (IP) connection to a third party website or web server, much like a web browsing application. For example, if a user wants to send a picture from the mobile station to a Goodpictures website, or retrieve a picture from the Goodpictures website to the mobile station, the user must use http protocol to communicate with the Goodpictures website via the wireless carrier data network. Users of Goodpictures may be billed a monthly recurring charge or may have to purchase pre-pay for number of uses. Any interactions with the website using a browser on the phone may also be billed according to the user's billing plan airtime or data usage.
Additionally, BREW has a protocol to send application directed messages from a network server to a mobile station, and from a mobile station to a network server.
BREW application users may be subject to a monthly recurring charge or a per-use fee. However, there is no clean real time transaction based billing model for such message transactions. Thus, users may be forced to prepay for uses. For example, a BREW ringtone application requires prepayment. Additionally, the direct IP connection to a third party service has negative security implications for the carrier.
To offer product software downloading as a commercial service, the carrier or a third party vendor or the platform developer (such as Qualcomm) operates an application download server (ADS) on a packet-switched data network, which is accessible by a data call from a compatible mobile station. In general, a user having a mobile station with a platform and having subscribed to the download service initiates a data call through the network to the ADS. After log-in, the station receives and displays one or a series of menus listing available applications. The user views the list of available applications and makes a selection, which the mobile station communicates through the network to the ADS server. The server then transmits the selected application through the network to the mobile station, and the mobile station stores the new program in memory. Subsequently, the processor of the mobile station calls-up and executes the downloaded application program using the API, for example, allowing the user to play a new game on the mobile station.
Based on these platforms, a number of the carriers, vendors and third parties are now offering application downloading as an additional pay service, through the wireless networks. Mobile station users can customize their wireless telephones through the selective downloading of applications of interest, such as games, printed media, stock updates, news, or any other type of information or application that is available for download through the wireless network. The user pays for the downloaded software as well as any airtime used for the download. Many of the applications, such as games and calendar programs, are run on the mobile station off-line, without ongoing communications through the wireless network. Some of the downloaded applications, however, stock or news update routines for example, use the communication capabilities of the mobile station and the network to implement at least some ongoing application functionality.
One problem with BREW is that there is no way that messages to or from a BREW application on the mobile station can be sent through the MMS infrastructure on the wireless carrier network. Conventionally, there is no way to avoid BREW related royalties or fees to QUALCOMM for BREW application messages. This invention provides a way to send messages to or from a BREW application on the mobile station through the MMS infrastructure on the wireless carrier network.
E. Brew Application Billing Models.
There are three different (nonexclusive) billing models that are presently supported for BREW applications: a) a download fee, b) a monthly fee, and/or c) a per-use fee. For example, if a user downloads a BREW application to a mobile station, there may be a download fee, and/or a recurring monthly fee of perhaps $3 per month, and/or a per use fee of perhaps $0.25 per use. This per use fee is in addition to any other applicable communication fees that a wireless carrier may charge, such as fees for using extra minutes.
These BREW application fees may be divided in three ways: part may go to the wireless carrier, part to Qualcomm (the developer of the BREW platform), and part to the developer of the BREW client application (for example, Goodpictures as the third party developer). In practice, these fees would be paid by the user to the wireless carrier (because the wireless carrier already has an established billing relationship with the user), then the wireless carrier may forward some portion to Qualcomm, and finally Qualcomm may forward some lesser portion to Goodpictures
The BREW platform and the associated BREW application download server are Qualcomm properties. Further, Qualcomm typically "owns" the BREW developer relationship, so Goodpictures is effectively a vendor for Qualcomm in this relationship. Qualcomm may "certify" the Goodpictures application as meeting BREW standards, and list the Goodpictures application in the Qualcomm application website for downloading by the mobile station subscriber or user.
At present, mobile station subscribers or users using BREW applications are sending/receiving multimedia messages using a direct IP connection to third party websites/web servers. The users are subject to a monthly recurring charge, and/or a per-use fee for each related multimedia message. However, applications that bill per-use typically have to prepay for uses (for example, BREW ringtone applications). Prepaying for per-use is inconvenient, because it takes time and effort to prepay, because it is difficult to predict (for example) how many new ringtones a user will download over the next month, and because users do not like prepaying. Thus, such there is no convenient real-time transaction based billing model for such message transactions. This lack of real-time transaction based billing is a problem.
In addition the above three billing models, this application presents additional models (fourth and fifth) which are new, and are enabled by this application.
A fourth billing model (new) for BREW applications is free (free download with free usage). In this model, a third party may develop a BREW application for Verizon Wireless, and Verizon Wireless may offer this BREW application to a mobile station user for free. The mobile station user may use this application without paying any BREW application related communication fees. However, the user will still pay any other standard communication fees that the wireless carrier may charge, such as fees for using extra minutes, or $0.25 per MMS message. Thus, the wireless carrier may find it profitable to buy and then freely distribute BREW applications that encourage wireless communications by the user, particularly MMS messages by the user. Note that the wireless carrier may not be obligated to share any of the MMS revenue with Qualcomm.
A fifth billing model (new) for BREW applications is MMS based usage billing. In this model, a wireless carrier may monitor BREW related MMS communications, and may charge additional BREW application related monthly or per user fees. These additional fees may or may not be shared with Qualcomm, depending upon the licensing agreement for the BREW platform.
The fourth and fifth billing models send and receive BREW application related MMS messages through a Mobile Message Service Center (MMSC). Thus, the MMSC is able to create billing records to support real-time transaction based billing, both for standard communication fees and for BREW related additional fees.
F. Multimedia Message Service Security
In recent years, Verizon Wireless has developed a picture messaging service called Multimedia Message Service (MMS) which is implemented using a native application or client built on the mobile station by an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for Verizon Wireless.
MMS communications from a mobile station to a third party website are relatively secure for at least three reasons. First, the mobile station does not interface directly with the third party website. Second, the Verizon Wireless MMSC is a network element that ensures the user is authorized for sending/receiving multimedia content. Third, the MMSC may interface with the third party website via a secure connection such as a VPN or a Dedicated Line, which ensures that the message is protected after it leaves the Verizon Wireless network. Additionally, MMS communications facilitate creating billing records to support real-time transaction based billing.
E. Need Exists
Hence, a need exists for MMS based communications to BREW applications for at least the following reasons: to provide secure communications between a mobile station and a third party website or web server, to support real-time transaction based billing, and to reduce or avoid communication fees (transport based royalties) paid to Qualcomm by Verizon Wireless (or by the user) for BREW application based communications.

MMS brew message delivery hybridization architecture


Embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems for partitioning memory mapped device configuration space are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a configuration space address storage location, an access map storage location, and addressing logic. The configuration space address storage location is to store a pointer to a memory region to which transactions to configure devices in a partition of a partitioned system are addressed. The access map storage location is to store an access map or a pointer to an access map. The addressing logic is to use the access map to determine whether a configuration transaction from a processor to one of the devices is to be allowed.

1. Field
The present disclosure pertains to the field of information processing, and more particularly, to the field of partitioning information processing systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, the concept of partitioning in information processing systems refers to dividing a system into partitions, where each partition is a group of system resources that may be operated as a complete and independent system. The system resources that may be allocated to a partition include processors, processor cores (where individual cores of a multicore processor may be allocated to different partitions), portions of system memory, and input/output ("I/O") devices. Different types of partitioning are known.
In "soft" partitioning, system resources may be shared between partitions. One form of soft partitioning is virtualization, which allows multiple instances of one or more operating systems (each, an "OS") to run on a single system, even though each OS is designed to have complete, direct control over the system and its resources. Soft partitioning typically requires that a virtual machine monitor, hypervisor, OS, or other such software is designed to run in one partition of a partitioned system and enforce the sharing of physical resources, which may include preventing any such software running in other partitions from directly controlling physical resources.
In "hard" partitioning, each system resource is typically dedicated to a respective partition. Hard partitioning provides for any OS, virtual machine monitor, hypervisor, or other such software to be run in each partition without requiring that the software be designed for a partitioned system, because such software may directly control the physical resources of its partition.

Partitioning memory mapped device configuration space


A solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes: a plurality of photodiodes arranged on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, for generating charges in response to light irradiation and for temporarily holding the charges; a charge transfer section for receiving the charges accumulated in each of the plurality of photodiodes in response to a read pulse supplied in a certain cycle and for transferring the charges in response to a transfer signal; and a shutter pulse application section for applying an electronic shutter pulse train, which allows the charges accumulated in each of the plurality of photodiodes to flow toward the substrate, onto the substrate, wherein the shutter pulse application section has a circuit for changing a pulse amplitude of the electronic shutter pulse train in the certain cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device which is applicable to camera systems such as video cameras, monitor cameras, door checker cameras, on-vehicle cameras, cameras for TV telephone and cameras for multimedia. In particular, the present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device, which contributes to reduction of voltage and power consumption of a camera system.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, a generally used charge-coupled device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a CCD) has an electronic shutter function for controlling exposure time. The electronic shutter function is employed for controlling the exposure time without a mechanical exposure time control mechanism, which results in reduction in size, weight, cost and power consumption. In the CCD, electrical charges are generated by photoelectrical conversion and accumulated in photodiodes. The charges are transferred (read) from the photodiodes to a neighboring vertical CCD in response to a read pulse which is applied to transfer gates once for each field period.
In the case where the CCD does not have the electronic shutter function, the exposure time equals one field period determined by the interval between the read pulses, that is, 1/60 of a second in an NTSC system. On the other hand, in the case where the CCD has the electronic shutter function, all the electric charges, which are photoelectrically converted from light and then accumulated in the photodiodes, are allowed to flow (drain) toward an N-type substrate by applying an electronic shutter pulse to the N-type substrate. As a result, no charge is left in the photodiodes just prior to an exposure period. Then, the exposure period for the photoelectrical conversion process is started.
In such a case, the exposure time is equal to a time duration between the electronic shutter pulse and the read pulse. According to the electronic shutter function, the exposure time can be reduced to about 1/10000 of a second by controlling the timing of the application of the electronic shutter pulse.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a system configuration of a conventional solid-state imaging device having the electronic shutter function. FIGS. 8A and 8B show the configuration of a CCD section of the solid-state imaging device. FIG. 8A is a plan view showing the CCD section; and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VIIIb--VIIIb in FIG. 8A.
As shown in FIG. 7, a conventional solid-state imaging device 200 includes a CCD section 201. The CCD section 201 receives a light beam reflected from an object and photoelectrically converts the light beam for each pixel, and transfers the charges generated by the photoelectrical conversion. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the CCD section 201 includes a plurality of photodiodes (light-receiving portions) 1 arranged on an N-type substrate 10 in a matrix manner, a plurality of vertical CCDs 2, and a horizontal CCD 3. The photodiodes 1 photoelectrically convert incident light into signal charges and store them. The vertical CCDs 2 vertically shift packets of the signal charges toward the horizontal CCD 3, and the horizontal CCD 3 horizontally transfers the signal charges to an output stage. Transfer gates 4 for transferring the charges accumulated in the photodiodes 1 to the vertical CCD 2 are provided between each of the photodiodes 1 and the corresponding vertical CCD 2.
A P-type well region 11 is formed on a surface of the N-type substrate 10. An N.sup.- -type region 12 is formed on the surface of the P-type well region 11. The photodiode 1 includes a P.sup.+ -type region 1a and an N.sup.+ -type charge accumulating region 1b for accumulating the photoelectrically converted charges. The P.sup.+ -type region 1a is formed in the surface area of the N.sup.- -type region 12. The N.sup.+ -type charge accumulating region 1b is formed in the surface area of the N.sup.- -type region 12 below the P.sup.+ -type region 1a.
The vertical CCDs 2 are formed in the surface region of the N.sup.- -type region 12 along lines of longitudinally arranged photodiodes. Each of the vertical CCDs 2 includes an N.sup.+ -type charge transfer region 2a, through which the charges are transferred, and a transfer electrode 2b. The transfer electrode 2b is formed on the charge transfer region 2a interposing an insulating film (not shown) therebetween. A P.sup.+ -type region 13 protruding into the P-type well region 11 is provided below the N.sup.+ -type charge transfer region 2a. A light-shielding film 15 is placed above the transfer electrode 2b.
A P-type read gate region 4a for reading out the charges accumulated in each of the photodiodes 1 to the vertical CCD 2 is formed between one end of the N.sup.+ -type charge accumulating region 1b of each of the photodiodes 1 and the N.sup.+ -type charge transfer region 2a. Part of a conductor layer constituting the vertical transfer gate 2b is positioned on the read gate region 4a, and serves as a read gate electrode 4b. A P.sup.+ -type region 14 is provided as a channel stopper portion between the other end of the N.sup.+ -type charge accumulating region 1b of each of the photodiodes 1 and the N.sup.+ -type charge transfer region 2a.
The solid-state imaging device includes a timing IC 202 and an pulse-amplitude modulation circuit 203 as shown in FIG. 7. The timing IC 202 generates a plurality of base pulses (or reference pulses) .PHI.s for an electronic shutter (hereinafter, simply referred to as base pulses) for each constant repetitive cycle, in this case, for each field period. The pulse-amplitude--modulation circuit 203 changes an amplitude of the base pulse .PHI.s based on a signal Vs so as to generate a shutter pulse .PHI.s'. The shutter pulse .PHI.s' output from the pulse-amplitude modulation circuit 203 is superimposed on a DC voltage V.sub.OFD for overflow control, and then is applied onto the N-type substrate 10 of the CCD section 201. The output of the pulse-amplitude modulation circuit 203 is connected to the substrate 10 of the CCD section 201 via a capacitor 204, while the DC voltage V.sub.OFD is applied onto the substrate 10 of the CCD section 201 via a diode 205.
In the solid-state imaging device 200 having the aforementioned configuration, a read pulse .PHI.R is applied to the read gate electrode 4b for each field period so that the charges accumulated in the photodiodes 1 are transferred to the vertical CCD 2. A plurality of shutter pulses .PHI.s' are applied onto the substrate 10 for one field period so as to allow the charges accumulated in each of the photodiodes 1 to flow toward the substrate. The charges transferred to the vertical CCD 2 are externally output as imaging signals via the horizontal CCD 3.
FIG. 9 shows the timing relationship between the read pulse .PHI.R, the shutter pulse .PHI.s', horizontal transfer pulses .PHI.H and CCD output signals Sc in the case where the exposure time is 1/10000 of a second.
As can be seen from FIG. 9, the base pulse .PHI.s generated in the timing IC 202 is converted into the shutter pulse .PHI.s' having an amplitude of Vs by the pulse-amplitude modulation circuit 203. Then, the shutter pulse .PHI.s' superimposed on the DC voltage V.sub.OFD for overflow control is applied onto the substrate 10 of the CCD section 201.
Since such an electronic shutter operation allows all the charges accumulated in the photodiodes 1 to flow toward the N-type substrate 10 through the P-type well 11 positioned below the photodiodes 1, the shutter pulse .PHI.s' should have an extremely large amplitude (for example, 22 V). When the pulse is applied, extremely large variation in potential occurs over the entire substrate. Therefore, the output signal of the CCD section 201 is adversely affected by the pulse. Accordingly, the shutter pulse .PHI.s' is generally applied during a horizontal blanking period or a vertical blanking period in which no video signal is output from the CCD section 201, thereby preventing the output signal from being adversely affected
Moreover, the electronic shutter operation as described above can theoretically control the exposure time with the final pulse along among a plurality of shutter pulses .PHI.s' (hereinafter, also referred to as a shutter pulse train) applied to the substrate 10 of the CCD section 201 for one field period. The electronic shutter operation is usually performed for receiving bright illumination. Therefore, there is a possibility that excessive charges overflow or leak from the photodiodes 1 toward the vertical CCD 2 before the final pulse of the shutter pulses is applied to the substrate. In order to prevent the excessive charges from leaking, the shutter pulse is always applied in each of the horizontal blanking periods during one field period, that is, by the time when the final pulse is applied.
FIGS. 10A to 10C are timing charts showing how the shutter pulse .PHI.s' is applied and the amount of accumulated charges C1 for one field period in the photodiode for comparison. FIG. 10A corresponds to the case where the electronic shutter operation is not performed. In FIG. 10A, an output signal Vo corresponds to the charges accumulated in a predetermined photodiode 1 for 1/60 of a second of exposure time (i.e., one field period).
FIG. 10B corresponds to the case where only one shutter pulse is applied for one field period. In this case, the exposure time Tr is 1/10000 of a second. However, when the light is strong enough, the output signal Vo corresponding to the amount of charges read out from a certain photodiode 1 during one field period has the same level as that shown in FIG. 10A. In this case, however, if the amount of charges generated in the photodiode 1 during the time duration between the shutter pulse .PHI.s' and the read pulse .PHI.R, exceeds a photodiode storage capacity (i.e., the amount of charges that the photodiode 1 can store), the excessive charges overflow from the photodiode 1 to the vertical CCD. As a result, the quality of picture is deteriorated.
FIG. 10C corresponds to the case where a shutter pulse is always applied for each horizontal blanking period during one field period even before the exposure is initiated. In such a case, since the charges generated in the photodiode 1 are caused to periodically flow toward the substrate even before the exposure is initiated, the charges generated in the photodiode 1 do not leak out to the vertical CCD.
Since the shutter pulse should have a large pulse amplitude, a high voltage is required to generate the shutter pulse. As the exposure time is shortened, the number of shutter pulses to be applied is increased. As a result, in the solid-state imaging device having a conventional electronic shutter function, the power consumption is disadvantageously increased. This is a very serious obstacle to realizing a camera for multimedia, an area in which it is particularly required to have reduced power consumption.


A ball and socket coupling is provided. The ball and socket coupling includes a ball body having a passage extending therethrough and a ball portion, and a socket body having a conduit extending therethrough and a ball receiving portion configured to receive the ball portion of the ball body. The ball and socket coupling also includes retaining structure disposed in the passage of the ball body and the conduit of the socket body, where the retaining structure is configured to operatively couple the ball body and the socket body together for permitting relative motion therebetween. The ball and socket coupling further includes motion limiting structure associated with the retaining structure and configured to limit relative motion between the ball body and the socket body to rotation about a single axis that is perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through the ball and socket coupling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to ball and socket couplings and, more particularly, to ball and socket fluid couplings having a single axis pivot joint.
2. Description of the Related Art
Articulating ball and socket fluid conveyance couplings are known in the art. These fluid couplings typically include a ball housing received in a socket housing, such that relative rotation between the ball housing and the socket housing is permitted about an infinite number of axes. The use of articulating ball and socket couplings, however, is not optimum for certain applications that require limited or no relative axial rotation parallel to fluid flow between the ball housing and the socket housing. One such application involves couplings used in aircraft. For example, in aircraft fuel delivery systems, it is often desirable to employ a fluid coupling, such as a ball and socket coupling, that eliminates or substantially reduces the amount of relative axial rotation parallel to fluid flow between the ball housing and the socket housing, but does permit some rotation motion about an axis perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow.
Attempts to eliminate or substantially reduce the amount of relative axial rotation parallel to fluid flow between the ball housing and the socket housing have been made in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,882 discloses a ball and socket coupling having external dual tabs on the ball housing positioned inside of dual external slots on the socket housing, the relationship of which permits some axial rotation parallel to fluid flow between the ball housing and the socket housing. There are continual efforts to improve upon the current designs of ball and socket coupling assemblies, particularly to reduce the complexity, cost, and size of the coupling as well as improve overall performance


A balance weight retention system for a vehicle whcel or a vehicle hub including an inner portion and an outer portion having a non-threaded opening formed therethrough and a balance weight having a non-threaded opening formed therethrough. A fastener extends through the non-threaded opening of the balance weight and into the non-threaded opening of the outer portion of the wheel or hub to thereby secure the balance weight to the associated vehicle wheel or vehicle hub.

This invention relates in general to vehicle wheels and hubs and in particular to an improved balance weight retention system adapted for use with such a vehicle wheel and hub.
Before a tire is mounted on a vehicle wheel, there typically exists an imbalance in the vehicle wheel. Also, after a hub is produced, there typically exists an imbalance in the hub. In order to correct the wheel and hub imbalance, one or more balance weights are usually attached to the associated wheel and hub. In a steel wheel or hub construction, a steel balance weight is typically secured to the steel wheel or hub by welding. However, in a nodular iron wheel or hub construction, it is not easy to weld the steel weight to the nodular iron wheel or hub. Thus, a threaded opening is usually provided in the nodular iron wheel or hub and a balance weight is secured to the associated wheel or hub using a fastener having a threaded end. It would be desirable to provide an improved vehicle wheel balance weight retention system which can be used with various kinds of wheel and hub constructions and which is easy to install and relatively inexpensive.

Balance weight retention system for vehicle wheel or hub


An electrophotographic photoconductor composed of an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon, which contains as a charge generating material an azo pigment subjected to a salt milling process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photoconductor, and more particularly to an electrophotographic photoconductor having sensitivities in the broad wavelength range from a visible region to a near infrared region.
2. Discussion of Background
Recent development of information processing systems utilizing electrophotography is remarkable. In particular, a photoprinter which converts information to be recorded into digital signals and optically records the information is excellent in the printing quality and operational reliability. This digital recording technology is applied not only to such a photoprinter, but also to ordinary copying machines, so that a so-called digital copying machine has been developed.
A copying machine which employs the conventional analog copying technology, as well as this digital recording technology, can be provided with various information processing functions, so that it is expected that a demand for such a copying machine will be increased.
At present, semiconductor diodes (LD) and light emitting diodes (LED), which are small sized and inexpensive and have high operational reliability, are in general use as light sources for the optical printer. However, the wavelength of the light emitted from LED now in general use is 660 nm, while the wavelength range of the light emitted from LD is in a near infrared region, so that the development of an electrophotographic photoconductor having sensitivities in the range from a visible region to a near infrared region is desired.
The photosensitive wavelength range of an electrophotographic photoconductor is substantially determined by the photosensitive wavelength range of a charge generating material (CGM) employed in the electrophotographic photoconductor, so that varieties of charge generating materials such as an azo pigment, a polycyclic quinone pigment, a trigonal system selenium and a phthalocyanine pigment have been developed.
Of the above-mentioned charge generating materials, many kinds of azo pigments have been developed because of the facility of the synthesis reaction thereof, and the diversification in the chemical structures thereof.
For instance, a bisazo pigment having a diphenylpolyene skeleton as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 64-79753, 59-129857 and 62-267363, and Japanese Patent Publications 3-34503 and 4-52459; and a trisazo pigment as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 57-195767 can serve as the charge generating materials which have high photosensitivities in a broad wavelength range from visible through near infrared and are capable of surely retaining the charging potential. However, the photosensitivities of the above-mentioned azo pigments are not enough to cope with the trend toward small-size, high-speed information processing apparatus.
An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising a titanyl phthalocyanine pigment subjected to a dry salt milling process is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,368. Although such a phthalocyanine pigment has sufficiently high photosensitivity in a broad photosensitive wavelength range, the crystalline form of the pigment is readily changed depending on the kind of organic solvent used in the preparation of the photoconductor. The quality stability of the phthalocyanine pigment as the charge generating material is therefore considered to be poor. In addition, the retention stability of the charging potential of the above phthalocyanine pigment is poorer than that of the conventional azo pigment.
As previously mentioned, a charge generating material (CGM) having a high photosensitivity in a broad wavelength range from visible through near infrared has not yet been developed.

Electrophotographic photoconductor containing charge generating azo pigment subjected to a salt-milling process


An apparatus and method are shown for indexing magazines and molded leadframes within the magazines comprising a lateral drive portion coupled to and located below the magazines for selectively moving a selected one of the magazines laterally at a first speed and for simultaneously moving the rest of the magazines laterally at a second speed, and a vertical drive portion having a portion for insertion into the selected one of the magazines when the magazines have ceased moving laterally for selectively moving the molded leadframes vertically within the selected one of the magazines. A plurality of magazine retaining members are also included each having a portion inserted into a portion of the lateral drive portion, and each having a cavity wherein a base portion of a corresponding one of the magazines rests. The lateral drive portion comprises a multi-pitch threaded shaft, a single motor coupled to the shaft for selectively rotating the shaft in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, and a housing fitting over a portion of the shaft and having an aperture through a top surface portion thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of apparatus and methods for indexing magazines retaining molded leadframes and, more particularly, is an apparatus and method for laterally indexing such magazines and for vertically indexing the molded leadframes therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
A series of magazines is normally used to retain large numbers of molded leadframes until they are picked up by an apparatus for handling molded leadframes. Typically, such handling apparatus will pick up a molded leadframe from some point in a working space (i.e. the top of a stack of molded leadframes in a magazine) and deliver it to the top of a stack of molded leadframes in another magazine, or to a different location in which an operation is to be performed on the molded leadframe. Oftentimes, the point in space were the molded leadframe is picked up by the handling apparatus remains constant. In other words, each time that the handling apparatus goes to pick up a molded leadtrame from a magazine, it goes to the same position. Given this, when a molded leadframe is removed from the top of a stack of molded leadframes in a magazine, it is necessary that the stack be indexed upward by a dimension approximately equal to the thickness of one of the molded leadframes. In this manner, the handling apparatus can return each time to the same position in order to pick up the next molded leadframe off of the top of the stack.
The present invention provides a structure and a method for vertically indexing a stack of molded leadframes located in a magazine. In particular, after the top molded leadframe is removed from the stack by a molded leadframe handling apparatus, the vertical indexing structure moves the stack of molded leadframes in the magazine upward by a dimension approximately equal to the thickness of one of the molded leadframes. Note, that the vertical indexing structure can also be used to move a stack of molded leadframes in a magazine downward by a dimension approximately equal to the thickness of one of the molded leadframes. This later action would be required after a molded leadframe was dropped off by the molded leadframe handling apparatus onto the stack of molded leadframes in a magazine, and before the handling apparatus dropped off another molded leadframe onto the top of the same stack. This vertical indexing up or down of a stack of molded leadframes in a magazine permits the molded leadframe handling apparatus to pick up or to drop off, respectively, at the same relative position in a given magazine.
Whether molded leadframe handling apparatus are used to pick up or to drop off a molded leadframe at a specific magazine, if one has a number of such magazines arranged serially, it is necessary that there be sufficient space adjacent to the subject magazine so that the vertical indexing structure can access the molded leadframes therein. This equates to being able to move each magazine in a line of magazines into the desired operation position, one at a time, while leaving enough space to permit the vertical indexing structure to fit between the subject magazine and a magazine on the other side of the vertical indexing structure. In the past, a series of motions implemented by more than one motor were required in order to establish the requisite space next to the subject magazine. It would be advantageous to be able to establish the desired space next to the subject magazine by implementing only a single motor.
There existed a need to provide an apparatus and method, implementing only a single motor, to laterally index a line of magazines holding molded leadframes, one at a time, to an operating position along the line. Additionally, the lateral indexing of the magazines establishes enough space adjacent to a magazine in the operating position in order to permit a vertical indexing structure to fit next to this magazine. The vertical indexing structure moves the stack of molded leadframes in the magazine at the operating position up or down as required to keep the pick up or drop off position constant for a molded leadframe handling apparatus operating on the stack.

Apparatus for indexing magazines holding molded leadframes and a method therefor


A method and composition for treating outbreaks of acne. Initially, the acne affected area is cleaned. A topical spray comprising about 1 to 10 wt % niacinamide, about 0.1 to 1 wt % Aloe Vera extract and about 0.1 to 1 wt % NaPCA in a water carrier is then applied to the area. Generally, at least two spray applications are made each day. For optimum skin cleaning, an exfoliation scrub such as a conventional apricot facial scrub is preferably applied to the skin prior to application of the combination topical spray.

Acne is a skin disorder that occurs most commonly among teen-agers. It consists of various kinds of blemishes on the face, upper chest and back. Severe acne can result in scarring. Acne is most likely in the facial area extending from around the nose to around the chin. This area is also most visible and acne here can be very distressing to the victim.
During early adolescence, hormone production begins that stimulates the oil glands in the skin. These sebaceous glands grow larger and produce more oil. Each sebaceous gland empties into a hair follicle and passes to the skin through a pore. Sometimes the pores become plugged and oil accumulates under the plugs. Pimples and cysts, caused by the acne bacillus, become infected resulting in redness and pus. Cysts may leave permanent scars, as may pimples if squeezed or scratched. Mild acne can be treated with diet changes, careful washing and nonprescription lotions containing benzoyl peroxide, topical creams containing salicylic acid, or other medications. Vitamin A palmitate may be applied topically for the treatment of acne and other skin disorders as described by Lerner in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,556,887 and 5,520,919. Severe acne may be treated with tetracycline, 13-cis-retinoic acid and other prescription drugs. The skin may be treated with acid or freezing in some cases to make the skin peel. These treatments are often unsuccessful and may have significant side effects. Often, at best, these treatments reduce the intensity or frequency of acne outbreaks.
The most difficult area for treating acne is a generally "O" or elliptical shaped area on the face that includes the nose and chin. Acne can also occur on other parts of the face, the shoulders, neck, etc.
Thus, there is a continuing need for methods and compositions for treating acne that are more effective in preventing flare-up of acne and in reducing or eliminating acne outbreaks that have begun and that have fewer side effects.

Topical spray for treating acne containing niacinamide and NaPCA


An impulsive unit for a jack hammer or rock drill is adapted to be powered by water, and comprises a piston slidable within a cylinder, and carrying a striker portion thereon. At least a portion of the piston and/or cylinder is coated with ceramic. The ceramic is most suitably an aluminum oxide-titanium dioxide composite, which enables the clearance between the internal diameter of the cylinder and the external diameter of the piston to be reduced to between 8 and 10 micro-meters.

It is known to use an impulsive unit to power a jack hammer or rock drill. An impulsive unit is typically powered by a closed loop hydraulic system using oil or an oil/water emulsion as the working fluid. This has the disadvantage that should the hydraulic system leak, then oil or oil/water emulsion will pollute the working environment. This is particularly undesirable in confined working environments, such as in deep mines.
Local heating is a significant issue in deep mining since the earth temperatures generally increases between 1.2° C. and 2.6° C. with each 100 meters of descent. For a 4,000 or 5,000 deep mine this could result in an ambient temperature in the region of 60° C., and consequently a significant amount of cooling must be provided in order to enable men to work at these depths.
It is also a problem that jack hammers and rock drills used in deep mines at these depths must also be cooled.
It is not possible to use water as the working fluid in an impulsive unit intended for use with oil or an oil/water emulsion as the working fluid, because the viscosity of water is significantly lower than that of oil or an oil/water emulsion. A typical impulsive unit includes a cylinder and piston, which is actuated by the working fluid. The clearance between the cylinder diameter and piston diameter in an impulsive unit for use with oil or oil/water emulsion is typically between 20 and 50 micro-meters. If such a unit is used with water, rather than oil or oil/water emulsion, such clearances are too great for water pressure to be maintained within the unit. In other words, the water is forced past the piston in the cylinder, rather than actuating the piston. Furthermore, water is not a lubricant, and so even if the clearances between the parts of the impulsive unit are reduced sufficiently to seal the piston against the cylinder, then the components which move relative to one another tend to seize or weld together.
It is an object of the invention to provide an impulsive unit, which can be powered by water and which substantially reduces the above-mentioned problems.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an impulsive unit adapted to be powered by water comprising a piston slidable within a cylinder, in which at least a portion of the piston and/or cylinder is coated with ceramic.
Preferably, the piston carries a striker portion thereon.
It has been found that by using a ceramic coating on at least a portion of the piston and/or cylinder, the clearances between the piston and the cylinder can be reduced sufficiently to enable water to be used as the working fluid, without the components seizing together. This surprising effect is thought to be caused by water particles becoming trapped in the surface pore structure of the ceramic, so that the piston and cylinder are kept spaced apart in operation. Thus the water is able to lubricate the surfaces as effectively as a film of conventional oil.
Preferably the ceramic coating contains a metal oxide. Most preferably the ceramic coating is an aluminium oxide-titanium dioxide composite.
Preferably the piston and cylinder are substantially cylindrical.
The internal wall of the cylinder may be formed by a sleeve. The clearance between the internal diameter of the cylinder and the external diameter of the piston is preferably between 8 and 10 micro-meters.
Preferably a pressure unit is provided for building up a charge of water under pressure and directing the charge of water under pressure towards a face of the piston. The pressure unit is preferably charged with between 5 and 10 cc gas at between 60 and 70 bar.
A valve means may be provided for controlling the charge of water to and from the cylinder. Preferably the valve means is a spool valve which is slidable with respect to the cylinder.
The impulsive unit may be adapted to operate when supplied with pressurized water at a rate of between 20 and 30 liters per minute. Preferably the water is pressurized to between 100 and 110 bar.
The impulsive unit may deliver around 1350 blows per minute to the tool when the water flow rate is 20 liters per minute. Alternatively the impulsive unit may deliver around 1900 blows per minute to the tool when the water flow rate is 30 liters per minute.
Preferably water is supplied to the impulsive unit from a closed loop supply, which may be cooled and/or filtered with a 10 micro-meter filter.
It is an advantage of the invention that only water is spilt in the event of a leak, which is non-toxic and not flammable. It is a further advantage of the invention that corrosion of the impulse unit is inhibited because it forms a closed loop circuit with substantially no air in the circuit.
The impulsive unit may be used in a jack hammer, a rock drill or any other impact tool.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tool system for use in mines comprising at least one water powered impulsive unit according to the first aspect of the invention.
Preferably one or more tools are mounted onto a moveable platform such that the tools may be easily advanced along a working seam. Advantageously the platform includes stabiliser means, such as one or more telescoping elements moveable to engage with the roof, sides or floor of a tunnel to hold the platform against motion or toppling when the impulsive units are in use.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a closed loop hydraulic system, in which water is the working liquid.
Preferably, the closed loop hydraulic system includes a reservoir of water, a pump for supplying water under pressure from the reservoir to a tool, and means for conveying water from the tool back to the reservoir.
The reservoir may be at atmospheric pressure, ie vented to atmosphere. Alternatively, the reservoir may be sealed to atmosphere and maintained at a pressure above or below atmospheric pressure.
Preferably, the tool is an impulsive unit. The impulsive unit may be a jack hammer or rock drill.
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:—


Provided is a radiation imaging apparatus including: a conversion unit including a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, wherein each of the pixels includes a conversion element for converting incident radiation into an electric charge and a switching element for transferring an electric signal based on the electric charge; a drive circuit unit for outputting, to the switching element, a drive signal having a voltage for turning on the switching element; a read-out circuit unit for reading out the electric signal from the pixel; a calculating unit for calculating the S/N ratio of the electric signal read out by the read-out circuit unit; and a determination unit capable of changing the voltage of the drive signal output from the drive circuit unit according to the S/N ratio calculated. As a result, the radiation imaging apparatus capable of improving the S/N ratio of the derived image is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation imaging apparatus, a drive method therefore and a program of the radiation imaging apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a planar radiation imaging apparatus using semiconductor manufacturing technology has been developed as a radiation diagnostic apparatus. Such planar radiation imaging apparatus includes an indirect conversion type, which converts X-rays to visible light with a phosphor for detection with photodiodes arranged in a matrix, and a direct conversion type, which directly converts X-rays to electric charge by the photoelectric effect using amorphous selenium for detection.
The radiation diagnostic apparatus requires a high contrast resolution for doctor's diagnosis. However, there is a several hundred times difference between dosages of X-ray used for fluoroscopy and those used for radiography. Therefore, the bit range of an AD converter cannot be effectively utilized. U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,029 has proposed an improvement measure.

Radiation imaging apparatus, drive method and program of the radiation imaging apparatus


A reactor system, plant and a process for the production of methanol from synthesis gas is described in which the reactor system comprises:    (a) a first reactor adapted to be maintained under methanol synthesis conditions having inlet means for supply of synthesis gas and outlet means for recovery of a first methanol-containing stream, said first reactor being charged with a first volume of a methanol synthesis catalyst through which the synthesis gas flows and on which in use, partial conversion of the synthesis gas to a product gas mixture comprising methanol and un-reacted synthesis gas will occur adiabatically; and    (b) a second reactor adapted to be maintained under methanol synthesis conditions having inlet means for supply of the gaseous first methanol-containing stream, outlet means for recovery of a second methanol-containing stream and cooling means, said second reactor being charged with a second volume of a methanol synthesis catalyst through which the gaseous first methanol-containing stream flows and on which, in use, further conversion of the synthesis gas to a product gas mixture comprising methanol will occur.

The present invention relates to a process, reactor system and plant for the production of methanol. In particular, it relates to a process, reactor system and plant for producing methanol from hydrogen and carbon oxides.
Methanol is synthesised in large volumes annually by the conversion of a carbonaceous feedstock, such as natural gas, into a mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen. Such a mixture of gases in often referred to as synthesis gas.
The conversion of a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, such as natural gas, into synthesis gas can be achieved by steam reforming, by partial oxidation, or by a combination of these processes.
In steam reforming a mixture of desulphurised hydrocarbon feedstock, such as natural gas, and steam is passed at high temperature, typically at a temperature of from about 600° C. to about 1000° C., and elevated pressure, typically from about 10 bar up to about 50 bar, over a suitable reforming catalyst, such as a supported nickel catalyst. One commercially recommended catalyst which is suitable for this purpose uses a mixture of calcium and aluminum oxides as support for the nickel. The principal reaction is:CH4+H2O≈CO+H2.
The reaction products themselves are further subject to the reversible "water gas shift" reaction in which carbon dioxide and hydrogen are produced from carbon monoxide and steam:CO+H2O≈CO2+H2.
Another method for producing synthesis gas involves the use, wholly or in part, depending upon the carbon to hydrogen ratio in the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, of direct catalytic or non-catalytic partial oxidation or secondary/autothermal reforming with oxygen. In the case of methane this occurs according to the following equation:CH4+½O2≈CO+H2.
A combination of steam reforming and partial oxidation or secondary/autothermal reforming can also be used.
Conversion of the carbon oxides and hydrogen to methanol occurs according to the following reactions:CO+2H2≈CH3OHCO2+3H2≈CH3OH+H2O.
These reactions are conventionally carried out by contacting the synthesis gas with a suitable methanol synthesis catalyst under an elevated synthesis gas pressure, typically in the range of from about 50 bar up to about 100 bar, usually about 80 bar, and at an elevated methanol synthesis temperature, typically from about 210° C. to about 270° C. or higher, e.g. up to about 300° C.
Suitable methanol synthesis catalysts include copper containing catalysts with a catalyst comprising a reduced zinc oxide/copper oxide mixture being particularly-suitable.
As with many reactions it is desirable to achieve the maximum rate of reaction per weight of catalyst or per volume of the reactor.
A conventional methanol synthesis plant can be considered to comprise four distinct parts, namely:    1. a reforming plant, which produces a mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock;    2. a compression stage which lifts the carbon oxides and hydrogen mixture to a higher pressure suitable for downstream methanol synthesis;    3. a methanol synthesis section, in which crude methanol is produced from the carbon oxides and hydrogen; and    4. a distillation section, in which the final refined methanol product is produced from the crude methanol.
A number of different types of reformer for use in part 1 of the methanol synthesis plant i.e. the reforming plant, are known in the art. One such type is known as a "compact reformer" and is described in WO-A-94/29013, which is incorporated herein by reference and which discloses a compact endothermic reaction apparatus in which a plurality of metallic reaction tubes are close-packed inside a reformer vessel. Fuel is burned inside the vessel, which comprises air and fuel distribution means to avoid excessive localised heating of the reaction tubes. In a compact reformer of this type heat is transferred from the flow gas vent and from the reformed gas vent of the reformer to incoming feedstock, fuel and combustion air. Other types of reformer are not as efficient as the compact reformer in transferring heat internally in this way. However, many other reformer designs are known and some are described in EP-A-0033128, U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,263, U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,502, U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,299, U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,588, U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,306, U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,348, U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,187, U.S. Pat. No. 49,090,808, U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,022, U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,590 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,008, U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,008 and WO 98/28071 which are incorporated herein by reference.
In a conventional plant, synthesis gas is compressed in passage from the reforming plant to the methanol synthesis zone. This compression stage is generally present in order to provide the required pressure of from 50 bar to 100 bar in the methanol synthesis zone. The compressed gas is then passed to the methanol synthesis section.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,227 apparatus for carrying out a catalytic chemical reaction is described which comprises a vertical, annular, intercylinder space which is divided by radially extending vertical partition walls into a plurality of chambers some of which include heat-exchanging tubes. Segments containing no heat-exchanging tubes may be packed with catalyst and utilised adiabatically to preheat the reaction gases. In use, the reaction gases will pass outwardly through this first segment, where any reaction will cause heating, they then are transmitted through the annular space surrounding the intercylinder space before travelling inwardly through the segment containing catalyst and cooling tubes where further reaction will occur.
Whilst this arrangement does offer certain advantages, it also suffers from various drawbacks. A principle disadvantage arises from the multi-segmental radial flow. This flow pattern causes the gas velocity to vary as the flow traverses from the centre of the reactor to the outside and back, due to the changing cross-sectional area of the segments. This changing velocities of the segments causes the heat transfer coefficient between the reacting gases and the cooling medium in the tubes to vary. In particular the heat transfer will increase as the gas velocity increases and will decrease as the gas velocity is reduced.
Thus the multi-segmental arrangement of the radial flow apparatus in U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,227 does not allow the gas velocity pattern and resultant heat transfer pattern to be optimised.
Various methanol production processes are known in the art, and reference may be made, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,202, U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,722, U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,675, U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,250, U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,738, U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,701, U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,250, U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,326, U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,145, U.S. Pat. No. 344,002, U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,527, U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,428, U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,369, WO-A-98/28248 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,300 which are incorporated herein by reference.
Various suggestions have been made for modifications to the plant design with a view to improving the economics of the production process.
Several suggestions for improving the efficiency of the reaction have been made which incorporate the use of multiple reaction stages. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,302 it is suggested that the methanol synthesis section should include two separate synthesis reactors. In this arrangement, the synthesis gas is passed to the first synthesis reactor, which is a shaft reactor containing a fixed bed of a copper-containing catalyst. The reaction in this shaft reactor is carried out adiabatically and in the absence of any recycling of synthesis gas. The product stream from this first reactor, which contains methanol vapour, is cooled to condense the methanol which is separated from the unreacted gaseous. components of the first product stream. These unreacted gaseous components are then compressed, heated and fed to the second reactor where they react to form methanol. The second reactor is preferably a tubular reactor in which the copper catalyst is indirectly cooled by water which is boiling under high pressure. The product stream from the second reactor is cooled and the methanol is removed by separation. Any unreacted gaseous components are compressed and heated before being returned to the second reactor.
Thus in U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,302 the first reactor is located outside the main reactor loop and simply serves to modify the composition of the feed gas before it enters the main reaction loop. The arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,302 is said to be useful where the synthesis gas feed has a CO2:CO ratio which exceeds 2:1.
An alternative arrangement is suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,901. In this arrangement two synthesis reactors are connected in series such that the product stream from the first reactor is passed directly to the inlet of the second reactor. The first reactor is a water cooled reactor in which the catalyst is located in tubes through which the gaseous reactants flow. The second reactor may be selected from a variety of designs. Whichever design is used, cooling in the second reactor is provided by counter-current heat exchange with the feed synthesis gas before it is fed to the first reactor.
This arrangement allows for cooler exit temperatures from the second reactor to be achieved than are conventionally achievable. However, whilst the lower temperature may allow the reaction equilibrium to move towards completion, it may also reduce the rate of reaction, and therefore may require more catalyst per unit of product.
Other examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,760 in which two reaction stages are used in an attempt to achieve a higher overall conversion to the desired ammonia than can be achieved in a single stage and U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,959 in which two or more reaction stages are described, with cooling between each stage, to increase conversion. As discussed by Kobayashi and Green in a paper presented to the 1990 World Methanol Conference, this approach can be extended to include a large number of stages. This paper also illustrates the optimum rate line for methanol synthesis.
Whilst an optimum rate line is known, a near-optimum reaction profile is not practical in commercial arrangements. This is because such a profile would generally require the reaction to start at high temperature and gradually fall as the reaction proceeds. Some suggestions have been made to produce a system which approaches the optimum rate line, such as those in the Kobayashi and Green paper however, a commercially satisfactory arrangement has not been realised.
Thus it will be understood that whilst the systems of the prior art go some way to addressing the problems associated with reducing the operating and/or investment costs of producing methanol, various disadvantages and drawbacks remain and there is still a requirement for alternative arrangements which will address at least some of these problems.


A multi-chip module includes a first Integrated Circuit (IC) die a second IC die. The first IC die includes an array of first bond pads, a plurality of first code group circuits, and first interleaved interconnections between the plurality of first code group circuits and the array of first bond pads, the first interleaved interconnections including a first interleaving pattern causing data from different code group circuits to be coupled to adjacent first bond pads. The second IC die includes a second array of bond pads that electrically couple to the array of first bond pads, a plurality of second code group circuits, and second interleaved interconnections between the plurality of second code group circuits and the array of second bond pads, the second interleaved interconnections including a second interleaving pattern causing data from different code groups to be coupled to adjacent second bond pads.

Integrated Circuit (IC) technology has advanced greatly over the past fifty years. ICs are now pervasive and present in electronic devices, machinery, vehicles, appliances, and many other devices. Large processing ICs now include billions of transistors while memory ICs include hundreds of billions of transistors. The density of transistors on ICs can reach 100 million transistors per square millimeter. However, the processing capability of a single IC may not be sufficient to meet required processing needs. Thus, ICs may be bonded together so that the two (or more) ICs are closely coupled and provide greater processing capabilities.
Die to Die (D2D) interconnects between ICs are enabled by interconnecting bond pads ("pads") on sandwiched ICs to create a multi-chip module. Soldering has been used to electrically couple the bond pads of one IC to the bond pads of another IC. However, soldering requires the bond pads to be spaced apart with sufficient pitch so that the solder does not bleed between bond pads to thereby short the bond pads to one another. A newer technique directly bonds the copper bond pads of one IC to the copper bond pads of another IC without using solder. This newer technique supports smaller pitch between adjacent bonds pads than the older technique that uses solder. In either implementation, when adjacent bond pads are shorted due to solder or bond pad faults or open due to defects such as particles or polish induced dishing, data transmitted between the ICs is corrupted.
One prior approach to overcoming the problems caused by bond pad shorts/opens was to use two or more redundant bond pads for at least some data. However, with a doubling of bond pads for redundancy, the Silicon area of the bond pad array increases proportionally with redundancy, resulting in high Silicon area cost, additional energy consumption from high capacitance load, and resultantly an increase in heat generation. A doubling of bond pads and connections is not preferred.

IC die to IC die interconnect using error correcting code and data path interleaving


A solid-state lithium battery including a lithium-containing anode and a phosphorus-containing cathode is disclosed. The cathode may include any of a number of electronically conductive allotropes of phosphorus, referred to as a group as black phosphorus. A solid discharge product of the cell acts as an electrolyte for the cell. The cathode may include an auxiliary electronic conductor phase to improve the conductivity of the cathode, improve the cathode utilization during discharge and reduce the overall cell impedance.

Cells and batteries based on lithium metal come in many different forms and are used to power a wide range of electronic devices and instruments. Their distinguishing feature is the use of lithium metal (or a lithium metal alloy) as the anode. Like other electrochemical cells they require a counter electrode or cathode and a lithium-ion conducting electrolyte joining the two electrodes. The anode and counter electrode must also be electronically separated. Since most lithium cell electrolytes are liquid, this is usually accomplished through the use of an insulating porous film impregnated with the electrolyte, sandwiched between the two electrodes.
A wide range of cathode materials have been used or proposed for use in cells of this configuration. Some desirable properties for cathode materials include high voltage, high energy density, compatibility with the electrolyte, and high conductivity when utilized in a cell.
Some examples of commercial lithium metal batteries with liquid electrolytes and porous separators include lithium/carbon monofluoride, lithium/iron disulfide, lithium/manganese dioxide and lithium/silver vanadium oxide. These cells operate well at room temperature with relatively high power and energy density. Other cathode materials have been proposed. Of particular relevance to this invention, a liquid electrolyte cell with a porous polymer separator in this classic configuration has been reported in the journal Dopovidi Natsional'noi Akademii Nauk Ukraini, 1997, 3, p. 154 utilizing a lithium anode and a cathode containing black phosphorus.
A number of lithium cells have been developed that utilize a solid electrolyte, which can function both as the separator and the electrolyte. Solid electrolytes for lithium cells must be both lithium ion conducting and electronically insulating. There have been a wide range of solid state materials identified over the years as suitable for use as electrolytes for lithium cells including lithium iodide, lithium phosphide, LiPON and LiSiCON. Most of these materials are glassy in nature and their lithium ion conductivities can vary greatly based on their form, specific composition and temperature of operation. Other solid electrolytes include polyethylene oxide/lithium salt composites and solid polymer gel electrolytes. The solid electrolyte material can be applied as a thin layer between the anode and cathode and if necessary mixed with the active anode and cathode materials within the electrodes. Some examples of cathode materials used or proposed for use in such cells include sulfur, iodine, and lithium transition metal oxides such lithium vanadium oxide, lithium iron phosphate, and lithium cobalt oxide. Cells made with solid electrolytes often have advantages in terms of storage stability, energy density, ease of manufacture, wide temperatures of operation and resistance to shock and vibration.
Within this class of solid-state cells and batteries, the lithium/iodine cell is unique in that the reaction between the anode and cathode itself generates the solid electrolyte phase, lithium iodide (LiI). Since the solid electrolyte phase is generated in-situ, there is no need to apply a solid electrolyte film to either the anode or cathode prior to cell assembly leading to advantages in energy density, manufacturability and life. Such a process also prevents shorting of the cell via self-healing, making them highly reliable and safe. The electrolyte propagates through the active materials as the cell is discharged and more reaction product or electrolyte is formed. Thus, as the anode and cathode are consumed by the discharge reaction, the electrolyte formed occupies the space, keeping the two electrodes in ionic contact. The theoretical energy density of the lithium/iodine couple is ˜1.9 Wh/cm3 with current practical values approaching 1 Wh/cm3. Such cells are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,660,163; 3,674,562; 4,148,975 and 4,952,469.
Due to their reliability and long life, these cells are widely used to power cardiac pacemakers and have been used for solid-state memory power, digital watches and sensors and monitoring equipment. While the voltage of operation is high (˜2.8 V) lithium/iodine cells operate at very low power and high impedance, due to the low ionic conductivity of the electrolyte (˜10−7/Ohm-cm) and the low electronic conductivity of the iodine. Methods of reducing the high impedance of the iodine cathode have been developed and most commercial cells currently utilize a pyridine-containing polymer (P2VP) as a depolarizer to increase the conductivity of the solid iodine phase. Such approaches lead to a decrease in the percentage of active material in the cell and thus a decrease in overall energy density. However, the advantages of the self-forming electrolyte and relative high capacity have led to widespread use in commercial devices.
Accordingly, a new solid-state cell with a self-forming electrolyte that exhibits greater energy density and higher power would be highly desirable.


The present invention is directed to pyrrolidine compounds of the formula I:

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that are released by a wide variety of cells to attract macrophages, T cells, eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils to sites of inflammation (reviewed in Schall, Cytokine, 3, 165-183 (1991) and Murphy, Rev. Immun., 12, 593-633 (1994)). These are two classes of chemokines, C-X-C (xcex1) and C-C (xcex2), depending on whether the first two cysteines are separated by a single amino acid (C-X-C) or are adjacent (C-C). The xcex1-chemokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), neutrophil-activating protein-2 (NAP-2) and melanoma growth stimulatory activity protein (MGSA) are chemotactic primarily for neutrophils, whereas xcex2-chemokines, such as RANTES, MIP-1xcex1, MIP-1xcex2, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), MCP-2, MCP-3 and eotaxin are chemotactic for macrophages, T-cells, eosinophils and basophils (Deng, et al., Nature, 381, 661-666 (1996)).
The chemokines bind specific cell-surface receptors belonging to the family of G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-domain proteins (reviewed in Horuk, Trends Pharm. Sci., 15, 159-165 (1994)) which are termed xe2x80x9cchemokine receptors.xe2x80x9d On binding their cognate ligands, chemokine receptors transduce an intracellular signal though the associated trimeric G protein, resulting in a rapid increase in intracellular calcium concentration. There are at least seven human chemokine receptors that bind or respond to xcex2-chemokines with the following characteristic pattern: CCR-1 (or xe2x80x9cCKR-1xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCC-CKR-1xe2x80x9d) [MIP-1xcex1, MIP-1xcex2, MCP-3, RANTES] (Ben-Barruch, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 22123-22128 (1995); Beote, et al, Cell, 72, 414-415 (1993)); CCR-2A and CCR-2B (or xe2x80x9cCKR-2Axe2x80x9d/xe2x80x9cCKR-2Axe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCC-CKR-2Axe2x80x9d/xe2x80x9cCC-CKR-2Axe2x80x9d) [MCP-1, MCP-3, MCP-4]; CCR-3 (or xe2x80x9cCKR-3xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCC-CKR-3xe2x80x9d) [eotaxin, RANTES, MCP-3] (Combadiere, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 16491-16494 (1995); CCR-4 (or xe2x80x9cCKR-4xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCC-CKR-4xe2x80x9d) [MIP-1xcex1, RANTES, MCP-1] (Power, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 19495-19500 (1995)); CCR-5 (or xe2x80x9cCKR-5xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCC-CKR-5xe2x80x9d) [MIP-1xcex1, RANTES, MIP-1xcex2] (Sanson, et al., Biochemistry, 35, 3362-3367 (1996)); and the Duffy blood-group antigen [RANTES, MCP-1] (Chaudhun, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269, 7835-7838 (1994)). The xcex2-chemokines include eotaxin, MIP (xe2x80x9cmacrophage inflammatory proteinxe2x80x9d), MCP (xe2x80x9cmonocyte chemoattractant proteinxe2x80x9d) and RANTES (xe2x80x9cregulation-upon-activation, normal T expressed and secretedxe2x80x9d).
Chemokine receptors, such as CCR-1, CCR-2, CCR-2A, CCR-2B, CCR-3, CCR-4, CCR-5, CXCR-3, CXCR-4, have been implicated as being important mediators of inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders and diseases, including asthma, rhinitis and allergic diseases, as well as autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. A review of the role of chemokines in allergic inflammation is provided by Kita, H., et al., J. Exp. Med. 183, 2421-2426 (1996). An antagonist of the CCR3 receptor, Met-chemokine beta 7, has been proposed to be useful in ameliorating leukocyte infiltration associated with allergic inflammation (Nibbs, et al., J. Immunol., 164, 1488-1497 (2000)). Accordingly, agents which modulate chemokine receptors would be useful in such disorders and diseases. Compounds which modulate chemokine receptors would be especially useful in the treatment and prevention of atopic conditions including allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, conjunctivitis, and particularly bronchial asthma.
A retrovirus designated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is the etiological agent of the complex disease that includes progressive destruction of the immune system (acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS) and degeneration of the central and peripheral nervous system. This virus was previously known as LAV, HTLV-III, or ARV.
Certain compounds have been demonstrated to inhibit the replication of HIV, including soluble CD4 protein and synthetic derivatives (Smith, et al., Science, 238, 1704-1707 (1987)), dextran sulfate, the dyes Direct Yellow 50, Evans Blue, and certain azo dyes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,469). Some of these antiviral agents have been shown to act by blocking the binding of gp120, the coat protein of HIV, to its target, the CD4 glycoprotein of the cell.
Entry of HIV-1 into a target cell requires cell-surface CD4 and additional host cell cofactors. Fusin has been identified as a cofactor required for infection with virus adapted for growth in transformed T-cells, however, fusin does not promote entry of macrophagetropic viruses which are believed to be the key pathogenic strains of HIV in vivo. It has recently been recognized that for efficient entry into target cells, human immunodeficiency viruses require the chemokine receptors CCR-5 and CXCR-4, as well as the primary receptor CD4 (Levy, N. Engl. J. Med., 335(20), 1528-1530 (Nov. 14, 1996). The principal cofactor for entry mediated by the envelope glycoproteins of primary macrophage-trophic strains of HIV-1 is CCR5, a receptor for the xcex2-chemokines RANTES, MIP-1xcex1 and MIP-1xcex2 (Deng, et al., Nature, 381, 661-666 (1996)), HIV attaches to the CD4 molecule on cells through a region of its envelope protein, gp120. It is believed that the CD-4 binding site on the gp120 of HIV interacts with the CD4 molecule on the cell surface, and undergoes conformational changes which allow it to bind to another cell-surface receptor, such as CCR5 and/or CXCR-4. This brings the viral envelope closer to the cell surface and allows interaction between gp41 on the viral envelope and a fusion domain on the cell surface, fusion with the cell membrane, and entry of the viral core into the cell. It has been shown that xcex2-chemokine ligands prevent HIV-1 from fusing with the cell (Dragic, et al., Nature, 381, 667-673 (1996)). It has further been demonstrated that a complex of gp120and soluble CD4 interacts specifically with CCR-5 and inhibits the binding of the natural CCR-5 ligands MIP-1xcex1 and MIP-1xcex2 (Wu, et al., Nature, 384, 179-183 (1996); Trkola, et al., Nature, 384, 184-187 (1996)).
Humans who are homozygous for mutant CCR-5 receptors which do not serve as co-receptors for HIV-1 in vitro appear to be unusually resistant to HIV-1 infection and are not immuno-compromised by the presence of this genetic variant (Nature, 382, 722-725 (1996)). Absence of CCR-5 appears to confer protection from HIV-1 infection (Nature, 382, 668-669 (1966)). Other chemokine receptors may be used by some strains of HIV-1 or may be favored by non-sexual routes of transmission. Although most HIV-1 isolates studied to date utilize CCR-5 or fusin, some can use both as well as the related CCR-2B and CCR-3 as co-receptors (Nature Medicine, 2(11), 1240-1243 (1996)). Nevertheless, drugs targeting chemokine receptors may not be unduly compromised by the genetic diversity of HIV-1 (Zhang, et al., Nature, 383, 768 (1996)). Accordingly, an agent which could block chemokine receptors in humans who possess normal chemokine receptors should prevent infection in healthy individuals and slow or halt viral progression in infected patients. By focusing on the host""s cellular immune response to HIV infection, better therapies towards all subtypes of HIV may be provided. These results indicate that inhibition of chemokine receptors presents a viable method for the prevention or treatment of infection by HIV and the prevention or treatment of AIDS.
The peptides eotaxin, RANTES, MIP-1xcex1, MIP-1xcex2, MCP-1, and MCP-3 are known to bind to chemokine receptors. As noted above, the inhibitors of HIV-1 replication present in supernatants of CD8+ T cells have been characterized as the xcex2-chemokines RANTES, MIP-1xcex1 and MIP-1xcex2.
The present invention is directed to compounds which are modulators of chemokine receptor activity and are useful in the prevention or treatment of certain inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders and diseases, allergic diseases, atopic conditions including allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma, as well as autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which chemokine receptors are involved.
The present invention is further concerned with compounds which inhibit the entry of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into target cells and are of value in the prevention of infection by HIV, the treatment of infection by HIV and the prevention and/or treatment of the resulting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and to a method of use of the present compounds and other agents for the prevention and treatment of AIDS and viral infection of HIV.

3-alkyl substituted pyrrolidine modulators of chemokine receptor activity

Abstract: (wherein R1, R2, R3, R4c, R4d, and R4f are defined herein) which are useful as modulators of chemokine receptor activity. In particular, these compounds are useful as modulators of the chemokine receptors CCR-3 and/or CCR-5.


An encapsulation method for a ball grid array (BGA) semiconductor package, includes: adhering one sided adhesive tape to an upper portion of the semiconductor package after performing a wire bonding; carrying out a molding by using a mold having a groove of a certain size inside; and removing the one side adhesive tape after completing the molding, whereby a flash is prevented from occurring during the BGA encapsulation process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a ball grid array (BGA) package process used in package processes for a semiconductor device, and in particular to an encapsulation method for a BGA semiconductor package which can prevent a flash from occurring during a molding process of the BGA semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Background Art
A ball grid array (BGA) semiconductor package has been widely used because it can be used to form several pins in a limited area. Further, the BGA semiconductor package includes short external terminals, thereby preventing bending by an external shock and easily transferring an electric signal.
FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a printed circuit board before carrying out a conventional encapsulation process for the BGA semiconductor package. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the printed circuit board for explaining the encapsulation process for the BGA semiconductor package. As depicted in FIG. 2, reference numerals 1 to 7 respectively indicate a dispenser 1 for injecting a liquid epoxy, a semiconductor chip 2, a wire 3, a dam 4 for preventing a flash from occurring, a printed circuit board 5, a frame 6 and a liquid epoxy spread 7 within the dam. Three units are configured in a single set in FIGS. 1 and 2.
A conventional encapsulation method for the BGA semiconductor package will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The chip 2 is bonded on the frame 6 with an adhesive by a die attach process. The bonded chip 2 is electrically connected to the board 5 by using the wire 3.
In order to protect the wire 3, an encapsulation process spreading the liquid epoxy is carried out. Here, the dam 4 of a certain height is provided to prevent the liquid epoxy discharged from the dispenser 1 from being spread. When the liquid epoxy 7 is injected by the dispenser 1, the chip 1 and wire 3 are sealed up by the liquid epoxy 7. Here, a height of the dam is set approximately a few tens of xcexcm.
In general, the package process is performed on a plurality of units composing a single set. When it is presumed that three units compose a set, as shown in FIG. 2, the afore mentioned encapsulation process must be performed three times. That is, the dispenser 1 is positioned on a first unit, and when the liquid epoxy 7 is completely spread, the dispenser 1 is transferred to a second unit. Accordingly, it takes a longer time to carry out the encapsulation process on the three units than on a single unit by three times.
By contrast, processes other than the encapsulation process are simultaneously performed on the units composing a single set. Therefore, if the encapsulation process takes a longer time, it results in a time increase of the entire manufacturing process.
In addition, an overflow of the liquid epoxy over the dam will cause a flash. Thus, to prevent the flash from occuring the process must be precisely performed.
There is still another advantage in that the dispenser and encapsulation instruments for using the dispenser are high priced.
In order to prevent the flash from occurring, a method of covering an upper portion of the package may be employed where a molding is performed with a mold and the liquid epoxy is injected through the mold. However, this method also requires a precise process, and thus it is difficult to manage the process.
The present invention is directed to a system that substantially obviates one or more of the problems experienced due to the above and other limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an encapsulation method for a ball grid array (BGA) semiconductor package capable of preventing a flash from occurring during an encapsulation process.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an encapsulation method for a BGA semiconductor package which can simultaneously carry out an encapsulation process on a set consisting of a plurality of units.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an encapsulation method for a BGA semiconductor package which can prevent a flash from occurring without using a dam.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent from the detailed description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention includes an encapsulation method for a BGA semiconductor package, including: adhering an one side adhesive tape with a cavity of a certain size at its center portion to an upper portion of a printed circuit board after performing a wire bonding; carrying out a molding by using a mold; and removing the one side adhesive tape when the molding is completed.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Thus, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of example only. Various changes and modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. In fact, other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention; methods, operation, and functions of the related elements of the structure; combinations of parts; and economies of manufacture will surely become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in various figures.

Encapsulation method for ball grid array semiconductor package

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


Method for generating an amplified high-power alternating voltage that follows a digital input data stream in terms of shape and amplitude, preferably in the known I2S format, whereby a direct-voltage supply that takes an essentially sine-shaped current is provided as the power supply. In order to achieve a high degree of effectiveness and a high level of congruency between the input data stream and the output signal, it is provided that the input data stream is converted into a digital signal sequence, and this signal sequence is amplified by switching, whereby a digital signal is derived from the amplified output signal, and compared with a digital signal that corresponds to the input data stream, and the amplification of the input data stream is influenced, in the sense of a congruency of the amplified signal with the input data stream, by means of switching by a digital difference signal that might be determined, whereby a signal that corresponds to the ripple of the direct-voltage supply is mixed into the input data stream or a signal derived from it.

In the consumer audio sector, for example, the power for the loudspeakers is transmitted by way of correspondingly voluminous copper wires. In addition to high costs, these cables also act as transmitting antennas of high-frequency interference, if switching amplifiers, so-called D amplifiers, are used. Within a greater progressive concept, a D amplifier that has a digital data stream supplied to it via light guides is built into the housing of the loudspeaker. The D amplifier of such a loudspeaker is supplied by means of a power network connector, and must also fulfill strict standards with regard to electromagnetic system perturbation by the environment.
In the case of such known solutions, conversion of the input data stream into an analog signal is always provided, which signal is then amplified and the amplified signal in turn is subsequently converted back to a digital signal. In this connection, however, a quality loss due to the repeated conversion cannot be avoided.
In addition, the degree of effectiveness of non-switching analog amplifiers, at approximately 50%, is relatively low Currently, switching amplifiers, i.e. those that contain power electronics, already reach degrees of over 90%. In the case of the D amplifier, the analog voltage applied to the input is pulse-width modulated (PWM) at a fixed frequency, the switching frequency of the D amplifier. This PWM voltage is amplified in the PWM end stage of the D amplifier by means of alternately switching transistors having a high degree of effectiveness on and off. The filter size of a D amplifier is determined by the lower auditory threshold (15 Hz). The degree of effectiveness is significantly influenced by the switching frequency. The switching frequency must amount to a multiple of the upper auditory threshold (20 Hz).
The spectrum of the amplified PWM voltage naturally has a great switching-frequency component and great harmonic components, which now have to be completely filtered out of the voltage again, accordingly, in order to obtain a high-power analog voltage that is as undistorted as possible at the load. In this connection, it is necessary to avoid pulse inaccuracies by means of corresponding feedback.
D amplifiers having an analog input and passive filters are known from the state of the art. The phase rotation of a band-pass filter and the complex loudspeaker load very quickly set narrow limits for the strong negative feedback that is desirable for low distortions, because of instabilities.
Another problem in known D amplifiers of this type also consists in the fact that direct voltage power supplies that essentially derive a sine-shaped current from a network, so-called power factor correction circuits (abbreviated as PFC hereinafter) deliver wave-shaped direct voltage that has a significant ripple component, i.e. ripple. In this connection, the ripple has a frequency that corresponds to 2n times the frequency of the network, whereby n stands for the number of phases of the network connected to a full-path rectifier circuit. However, a noticeable ripple of the voltage supply makes extensively distortion-free amplification of the input signal difficult. In order to smooth out ripple, DSDC stages are usual, but they require a relatively great effort/expenditure of switching technology.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,467 discloses an amplifier circuit using a D amplifier, the analog output signal of which is fed back to a "Noise and Ripple Shaping Chip." This "Noise and Ripple Shaping Chip" furthermore has a digital input signal and an analog signal from the voltage supply supplied to it.
An overview of PFC ("power factor corrected") rectifiers is offered by the article "A Topology Survey of Single-Stage Power Factor Corrector with a Boost Type Input-Current-Shaper," Qiao, C. et al., APEC 2000, 15th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, LA, Feb. 6–10, 2000, Annual Applied Power Electronics Conference, New York, N.Y.: IEEE, US, Vol. 1 of 2, Conf. 15, Page 460–467, XP001036175, ISBN: 0 7803 5865 1.
Another overview of PFC power supplies, also in connection with D amplifiers, is offered by the article "A Class D Amplifier Using MOSFETs with Reduced Minority Carrier Lifetime," J. Hancock, Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, Audio Engineering Society, New York, US, Vol. 39, No. 9, Page 650–662, XP000226144, ISSN: 0004–7554.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,876, an amplifier circuit for a digital input signal is described, in which an analog signal is fed back.

Method for generating a high-power alternating voltage that follows an input data system