A method of inspecting a DNA chip and an apparatus therefor that allow a picture to be reconstructed in the following steps: A plurality of irradiation spots are formed on a DNA probe array mounted on a stage. Then, the stage is displaced in X, Y directions so as to execute a scanning, thereby irradiating substantially all the entire surface of the DNA probe array. Next, a plurality of emitted fluorescent lights, which are generated from the plurality of irradiation spot portions on the DNA probe array, are converged and are then detected simultaneously by multi detectors. Finally, a data processing apparatus processes the detected signals, thereby reconstructing the picture.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading and analyzing an emitted light (fluorescent light) pattern emitted from a sample located on a plane. More particularly, it relates to a method and an apparatus by which living body samples, such as a DNA, a RNA and an oligonucleotide marked by a fluorescent material, are trapped at a plurality of positions on a substrate so as to read an emitted light pattern from the fluorescent marker with a high-resolution, at a high-speed and with a high-sensitivity.
Analysis technologies for analyzing the DNA and proteins are important in fields of medicine and biology including gene analysis and gene diagnosis. In particular, in recent years, attention has been focused on a method and an apparatus by which, using a DNA probe array (which is called in other way by various names such as oligochip, DNA chip or biochip, but hereinafter the DNA probe array is employed as the generic name), a variety types of DNA sequence information and gene information are inspected and analyzed simultaneously from one specimen to be inspected. The DNA probe array is implemented in the following way: A substrate such as a glass is used and separated into a plurality of (millions to tens of millions) areas, and target (usually, different types of) DNA probes are fixed onto the respective areas so as to form the respective areas into microscopic reaction areas, thus implementing the array. The reaction of the specimen with the array allows a target DNA in the specimen to be trapped in a state of being hybridized with the fixed DNA probes. Moreover, the target DNA is coupled with a probe such as a fluorescent probe, thereby making it possible to measure the coupled state (the position, i.e., the hybridized sequence) and its quantity with the use of the fluorescence intensity and so on. This permits the array to be utilized in the gene diagnosis and the sequence.
A microscope-like apparatus (confocal fluorescent microscope), which is usually called a scanner, is used in order to read the fluorescence intensity emitted from the fluorescent marker on the target DNA trapped in the respective reaction areas of the DNA probe array (for example, refer to JP-A-11-315095). In this apparatus, the array is irradiated with a excitation light such as a laser light which has been modified into one microscopic spot-shaped configuration, and fluorescent lights generated are separated from the excitation light using a spectroscopic device such as an interference filter, then detecting the fluorescence intensity using a photo detector such as a photomultiplier tube. At that time, the excitation light is waved using a galvanometer mirror so as to scan, in a 2-dimensional manner, the microscopic spot formed on the array. Otherwise, the position of the microscopic spot is fixed, then scanning the array in the 2-dimensional manner. These scans make it possible to recognize the fluorescence intensity distribution of the entire array, i.e., the degree of the coupling toward each DNA probe.
When trying to apply the DNA inspection to a living body inspection such as a conventional blood inspection, it becomes absolutely required to execute the inspection toward a large number of living specimens at a high-speed. In the conventional technologies, however, it takes so much inspection time to irradiate one point with the excitation light spot, which is equivalent to a necessary inspecting resolution of the DNA chip, and to detect the obtained fluorescent lights one after another. This is concerned with the fact that it is impossible to shorten unlimitedly a time needed to detect this one point. Namely, this is attributed to the fact that the time ΔtL, which is needed up to the finishing of the fluorescent light generation after the irradiation with the excitation light, is equal to substantially 10 ns. Transferring the detection to the next detection point without waiting for the finishing of the fluorescent light generation makes the detection itself impossible.
Also, it is required to perform the detection with a high-sensitivity that corresponds up to a state where there exist several fluorescent molecules within the spot light size equivalent to the above-described necessary detecting resolution. However, all of the generated fluorescent lights are not detected. Namely, a light utilization efficiency of the detecting optical system and a quantum efficiency of the photomultiplier tube used for the optical detection are not equal to 100%. Moreover, the following values are small: An efficiency with which the excitation light is absorbed in the fluorescent material and a probability with which the absorbed excitation light is converted into the fluorescent light. This requires that the detection be executed by spending a time that is at least tens to hundreds times longer than ΔtL. Furthermore, the more this time is lengthened, the higher the accuracy of a weak light detection becomes which is almost the same as the photon counting.
Also, in order to accomplish such a high-speed characteristic at a practical level, the following conditions are required: Eliminating or reducing influences of foreign substances that are composed of various types of proteins mixed into the DNA chip, or maintaining all the time a focal point of the detecting system onto the inspection plane on which the fluorescent material-added target has been hybridized. Also, in some cases, it becomes necessary to perform the detection with reference to a plurality of fluorescent lights at a high-speed.
When forming multi-spot lights from a bean emitted from a laser light-source, if the emitted light is wished to be modified into the multi-spot lights without being wasted, i.e., for example, when trying to form 50 multi-spot lights that are 0.04 mm in diameter and are arranged in a line with a pitch of 0.4 mm, the emitted laser beam is formed so that the beam becomes an ellipse-shaped configuration the longitudinal-to-transverse ratio of which is equal to 1 to 50. Irradiating, with the ellipse-shaped beam, a microlens array where microlenses are arranged with a pitch of 0.4 mm makes it possible to obtain the 50 multi-spot lights about 0.04 mm in diameter and having the pitch of 0.4 mm, if a focal length of the microlenses is equal to 60 mm, for example. Since the intensity distribution of the laser beam is Gaussian distribution, in the arrangement of the 50 multi-spot lights formed in the method as described above, spots situated in proximity to the center of the arrangement become lighter and spots situated in proximity to the periphery thereof become darker. Trying to equate as much as possible the intensities of the spots at the center with those of the spots on the periphery requires the following: A spread area of the incoming ellipse-shaped beam should be made large enough as compared with the width of the 50 microlenses. As a result, half or more of the laser beam energy emitted from the laser light-source turns out to be wasted.
In the DNA probe array, the number of the types of the fixed probes is increased and thus its density is becoming more and more heightened. On account of this, an apparatus for measuring the fluorescent marker distribution of the DNA probe array is expected to operate at the high-speed and with the high-sensitivity in addition to implementing the high-resolution characteristic. In the above-described apparatus, however, no sufficient consideration has been given to this point. Namely, it is required to make the spot diameter of the excitation light more microscopic in order to implement the high-resolution characteristic, whereas the scanning time is increased at that case (when an exposure time for each spot is identical). Moreover, making the spot diameter smaller lessens the number of the fluorescent molecules existing within the spot diameter, thereby lowering the detection sensitivity. Also, in order to implement the high-speed characteristic, it is required to increase the scanning rate or to make larger the spot diameter of the excitation light. Increasing the scanning rate, however, shortens the excitation time for the fluorescent material, thereby lessening the fluorescence intensity or increasing a circuit noise to lower the detection sensitivity. Also, in order to implement the high-sensitivity characteristic, it is required to make the spot diameter larger and to delay the scanning rate. Namely, implementing the high-resolution characteristic, implementing the high-speed characteristic and implementing the high-sensitivity characteristic are contradicted to each other, and accordingly it was difficult to accomplish them.
Also, there has been proposed an apparatus by which a plurality of microscopic spots are formed on a sample surface and lights from the plurality of microscopic spots are detected simultaneously (for example, refer to JP-A-11-118446). In this configuration, a light-flux from an excitation light-source is enlarged and a 2-dimensional microlens array is located in the enlarged light-flux so as to form the plurality of irradiation spots, then projecting the spots onto the sample surface. In this case, however, especially when a laser light is used as the excitation light, because of the Gaussian distribution characteristic of the laser beam, the light intensities of spots in proximity to the center are intense and the light intensities of the spots become lower as their positions come nearer to the periphery. Accordingly, it is difficult to equate all the light intensities of the plurality of irradiation spots. This problem is partly solved by enlarging the excitation light up to a light-flux the diameter of which is large enough as compared with the width of the 2-dimensional microlens array. In this case, however, the light utilization efficiency is no good and the light intensities are decreased, thus resulting in such a problem that the detection sensitivity is deteriorated.
In a method of focusing a one-beam laser light onto a target to be inspected, the detection is executed on a one-pixel by one-pixel basis in a time-sequence manner. As a result, when the fluorescent light is extremely weak, it takes a time to execute the detection equivalent to the one-pixel. Consequently, it takes a considerable amount of time to detect the entire 2-dimensional image. Even if an excitation light of the one-beam laser is strengthened in order to detect the weak fluorescent light emitting target at a high-speed, when trying to detect, for example, 6000×6000 pixels in 1 minute, the detecting time per pixel turns out to become 1 to 2 μsec (microseconds). Executing the detection in such a short time makes it difficult to detect the fluorescent light detection intensity in a broad dynamic range (for example, 216). Also, since a normal fluorescent material emits the fluorescent light with a delay of 10−9 to 10−5 sec after receiving the excitation light, the above-described per-pixel fluorescent light detecting time of 1 to 2 sec prevents the fluorescent light detection from being fully accomplished. Meanwhile, in a method using Nippou disk, the light is utilized effectively only by the amount of a ratio of a microscopic aperture in a uniform light. This condition requires a considerable amount of time to be spent to detect the weak fluorescent light.


Shaft-coupling assemblies using the same shaft but different removable coupling devices (pulleys or gears, etc). The coupling devices are located at any location on the shaft and can be the same or different sizes.

Various motor shaft assemblies have different uses which require a plurality of different pulleys or couplings resulting in a required, substantially large inventory of motors and motor shafts with fixed pulleys or couplings. When ordered and when inventoried, each of these different motors and motor shafts with fixed couplings have different specific uses, requiring different part numbers, higher costs associated with keeping each specific configuration and replacement parts, higher stocking space requirements and, generally, other costs and inconvenience associated with a plurality of inventoried items. Often motors and media drive shaft assemblies have different part numbers because they have unique pulleys or couplings, or axial locations for those components on the motor or motor shaft.


Resorbable materials and their preparation based on gelling a solution of a single polylactide enantiomer. The gel may be dried to produce solid materials, or may be extracted with a nonsolvent prior to drying to make microporous materials. Physical and mechanical properties of the material may be varied by varying the molecular weight of the gelling polymer, or by blending the gelling solution with other polymers or fillers. The resorbable materials can be used to make biodegradable implantation devices.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to resorbable materials made by gelling a solution of a single polylactide enantiomer. Such materials can be used to make resorbable implantation devices of designed morphology and thickness.
2. Description of Related Art
The poly alpha-hydroxy acids are a class of synthetic aliphatic polyesters, the main polymers of which are polylactide (alternatively referred to as polylactic acid) and polyglycolide (alternatively referred to as polyglycolic acid). These materials have been investigated for use in a variety of implant systems for soft tissue and osseous repair in medicine and dentistry, since they tend to exhibit very good biocompatibility and are biodegradable in vivo. The need to remove the device after tissue repair can thereby be reduced or eliminated. The alpha-hydroxy acids are also being investigated for production of controlled release rate delivery systems for bioactive materials, such as pharmaceuticals.
The repair of osseous defects, such as developmental malformations and surgical resections, has stimulated development and application of a wide range of synthetic and natural bone repair materials or bone substitutes. Iliac crest autograft has been shown to be an effective graft material (See, for example, Goldstrohm et al., J. Trauma, 24:50-58, 1984), but the supply is limited, requiring, in some cases of segmental defect repair or tumor resorption, multiple procedures to obtain sufficient material. In addition, the removal of cancellous graft can create additional surgical trauma, increase the potential for infection, and, by lengthening the operating time, increase the risk.
These disadvantages have spurred investigations of alternative bone repair materials. Bioceramics of calcium phosphate have attracted widespread attention because of their biocompatibility and chemical similarity to the bone matrix, which results in direct bonding to bone without intervening fibrous tissue (See, Osborn et al., Biomaterials, Winter, Gibbons, Plenk (eds.), 1980). However, they tend to be brittle, difficult to shape, and remain in the repair for time periods greater than 12 months (See, Holmes et al., Clin. Orthop. Rel. Res., 188:252-62, 1984).
The ability to vary the biodegradation rate of synthetic alpha-polyesters by material selection, copolymerization, control of molecular weight, crystallinity and morphology makes them attractive for bone repair. Resorption rate can be varied from two weeks to over a year, for example, so that implant resorption may be tuned to bone repair rates (See, Hollinger et al., Clin. Orthop. Rel. Res., 207:290-305, 1986). PLA/PGA copolymers have been used alone (Hollinger, J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 17:71-82, 1983) and as binders for bioceramics (Higashi et al., Biomaterials, 7:83-87, 1986) and decalcified allogeneic bone (Schmitz et al., Clin. Orthop. Rel. Res., 237:245-55, 1988) to produce bone fillers for repairing bony deficiencies in animals.
Such polymers can also function as delivery systems for growth factor(s) as they tend to biodegrade. U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,384 discloses a protein-acidic phospholipid addition to PLA/PGA copolymer which is reported to increase bone healing rates in rat tibias relative to the copolymer. PLA could, in itself, play a dual role of bone filler and bone growth factor. Hollinger, J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 17:71-82 (1983), reported that a 50:50 copolymer of poly(L-lactide co-glycolide) increased the rate of early osseous healing when implanted in rat tibial defects. Thus, it appears that the degradation products of these linear aliphatic polyesters may play a role in the stimulation of hard and soft tissue growth, which increases the attraction of using PLA and PGA for repairing soft or hard tissue.
Metal internal fracture fixation plates, produced for example from stainless steel, frequently have an elastic modulus greater than ten times that of bone. Although plate rigidity is an advantage for achieving primary osseous union, it tends to inhibit external callus formation, which is considered a good method for restoring the strength of the broken bone to its original level (See, Kelley et al., Advances in Biomedical Polymers, Gebelein, C. G. (ed.), Plenum Press:New York, 1987). Active remodeling of the bone after fracture healing may also be compromised unless the rigid plate is removed, often resulting in stress protection and, consequently, osteoporosis and atrophy beneath the plate.
The potential advantages of internal fixation devices produced from biodegradable polymers have long been recognized. Primary bony union and callus formation could be achieved by an adequately stiff and strong plate. Load transfer to the healing bone and bone remodeling may be promoted by a gradually reducing plate stiffness as biodegradation proceeds. Finally, the need for plate removal may be eliminated by resorption of the device.
Kulkarni et al., Arch. Surg., 93:839-43 (1966), describe the production of poly(DL-lactic acid) pins for reduction of mandibular fractures in dogs. Getter et al., J Oral Surg., 30:344-48 (1972), describe the use of high molecular weight PLA plates to treat mandibular fractures in dogs. Leenslag et al., Biomaterials, 8:70-73 (1987), disclose treatment of fractured zygoma in 10 patients using high molecular weight PLA plates. Such polymers, however, tend to be absorbed very slowly. Bostman et al., J. Bone and Joint Surgery, 69-B. No. 4 (1987), describe the use of high strength, fast resorbing, self-reinforced PLA/PGA rods for routine treatment of patients with displaced malleolar fractures.
Soft tissue repair has been a major area of application for synthetic biodegradable polymers. Reul, Ann J. Surg., 134:297-99 (1977), describes the use of "Vicryl" (Polyglactin 910) sutures in general surgical and cardiothoracic procedures. Absorbable meshes are often used to perform a buttressing role for soft tissue during healing, and may also act as a scaffolding system for ingrowth of connective tissue. Greisler, Arch. Surg., 117:1425-31 (1982), describes vascular grafts produced from bi-component fabrics based on Dacron and biodegradable polyester fibers. These are reported to achieve the required low bleeding porosity at implantation and high porosity during the healing stage as degradation proceeds. Tissue regeneration is promoted by tissue growth and adherence to the biodegradable scaffold provided by the graft structure.
The lactide/glycolide polymers and copolymers tend to demonstrate an easily characterized and controllable degradation rate and tend to be nontoxic, which is advantageous for manufacture of controlled release rate delivery systems for a wide variety of bioactive materials, such as pharmaceuticals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,489 discloses production of a biodegradable polymer delivery system for bone morphogenetic protein based on a poly (lactide co-glycolide) copolymer. Development of suitable delivery methods is important for such therapeutic proteins since they are readily absorbed by the body. Schakenraad et al., Biomaterials, 9:116-20 (1988), describe the development of a biodegradable hollow fiber of poly(L-lactide) for controlled release of contraceptive hormone.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,246 discloses compositions wherein segments of poly (R-lactide) interlock or interact with segments of poly (S-lactide), producing a crystalline phase having a melting point higher than that of either component. Processes are described for preparing the above compositions, e.g., by mixing and combining the previously prepared polymeric components in a suitable solvent or in the molten state and processes for preparing gels and porous structures of the compositions. The patent discloses spontaneous gel formation from solutions of blended polylactide enantiomers on stirring. It is described that porous structures are produced from gels of the composition by a process comprising solvent exchange and evaporation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,931 discloses production of a bone repair material consisting of decalcified freeze-dried bone (DFDB) and biodegradable biocompatible copolymer, namely poly[L(-) lactide co-glycolide] copolymer, which is described as being used for improving and accelerating the healing of osseous tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,384 discloses a material, consisting of a combination of a proteolipid and a biodegradable, biocompatible copolymer which is stated to facilitate improved healing of osseous wounds when implanted at the site of the broken tissue.
The methods disclosed in Pat. Nos. 4,637,931 and 4,578,384 for producing biodegradable bone repair materials from polymer solutions generally comprise the stages of polymer dissolution, polymer precipitation in a nonsolvent, partial drying of the precipitate and compaction of wet precipitate in a mold, followed by heating/drying to produce the finished implant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,489 discloses a biodegradable PLA polymer delivery system for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) to induce formation of new bone in viable tissue. The delivery composition described is substantially pure BMP in combination with a biodegradable PLA polymer, prepared by admixing the BMP with the biodegradable polymer. The composition is implanted in viable tissue where the BMP is slowly released and induces formation of new bone.
The method for preparing the implant material of U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,489 generally comprises (1) dissolving the physiologically acceptable biodegradable polymer in a solvent such as ethanol, acetone or chloroform, (2) admixing the polymer solution with BMP to form a dispersion of BMP in the polymer solution and (3) precipitating the composite by adding a second solvent which causes precipitation of the polymer or lyophilizing the dispersion or otherwise treating the dispersion to remove it from solvent and form the BMP-PL composite. After composite formation, it is filtered, pressed or otherwise processed to remove the solvent, and the resulting composite solid is formed into the desired shape for implantation. Other additives may be included, e.g., antibiotics, prosthesis devices, radio-opacifying agents.
The delivery compositions of U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,489 have relatively small masses and are used in relatively thin layers (i.e., in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm in thickness). In one example, implants are described as being shaped by pressing the wet BMP-PL precipitate in a mold to express the second solvent prior to drying. Wet (precipitated) composite was also shaped using glass molds to produce flakes, rods, films or plates. The patent also mentions that in preferred embodiments the BMP/biodegradable polymer delivery composition is formed into a dough, rod, film, flake or otherwise shaped as desired. The patent further mentions that the BMP/PL composition, while still dispersed or dissolved in solvent, may be formed into small pellets, flakes, platelets, etc., by casting in molds and allowed to dry or harden.
Several other processing techniques have been utilized for production of resorbable implants from the synthetic alpha-polyesters, such as PLA. U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,329 discloses the production of a resorbable compressing screw for use in orthopaedic surgery by injection molding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,183 discloses the production of surgical structural elements, such as plates or pins, consisting of bioabsorbable or semi-bioabsorbable composites. Specifically, a bone fixation device is disclosed based on an absorbable homopolymer of L-lactide or DL-lactide or a copolymer of L-lactide and a reinforcement material. Poly (L-lactide) was selected as the preferred matrix material. The reinforcement is described to be either particulate, such as hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate, or fibrous, such as alumina, polyethylene terephthalate, or ultra-high modulus polyethylene.
Composite materials used for production of bone fixation devices may be manufactured by various routes. For particulate-filled systems, filler is typically added in the desired concentration to the bulk melted polymers in a stirred reactor vessel just subsequent to polymerization. Alternatively, particulate filler, such as tricalcium phosphate, may be thoroughly mixed with the melted bioabsorbable polymer under nitrogen or vacuum.
For fiber reinforced materials, solution impregnation and lamination or melt impregnation and lamination techniques are typically utilized. In the former case, fibers or woven fabric may be immersed in a solution of the biodegradable polymer in methylene chloride. The impregnated reinforcement may be dried, then laid up in a mold to a predetermined thickness. Vacuum may be applied using a vacuum bag, then heat and compression applied to consolidate the laminate.
Melt impregnation and lamination first typically require the making of films of the biodegradable polymer by solvent casting or melt processing, or the preparation of fibrous mats by running a solution of the polymer into a non-solvent in a thin stream to form a stringy precipitate. This precipitate may be pressed into a mat at room temperature. The films or mats may then be laid between yarn or fabric layers in a mold of predetermined thickness and consolidated as above.
Poly(L-lactide)/alumina fiber laminates may be produced by laying up melt-pressed poly(L-lactide) sheets and alumina fiber fabric in a mold and consolidating under heat and pressure. Poly(L-lactide)-Kevlar laminates may be made by solution impregnation and lamination. A laminate may also be formed by impregnating 1/2 " chopped alumina fiber with poly(L-lactide) by stirring the chopped fiber in a chloroform solution of the polymer, then drying and consolidating the mixture, by hot pressing in a mold, to give a laminate containing 30% alumina by volume.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,449 discloses the production methods of direct machining of a high molecular weight, solid L(-) lactide polymer after removal from the reaction vessel and grinding and molding the polymer to form the desired implantable fixation device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,503 discloses production of a moldable bone implant material containing approximately 65-95% hard filler particles and a binder composed of approximately 35-5% of a biocompatible, biodegradable thermoplastic polymer which has fluidic flow properties at a selected temperature at or below about 60.degree. C. Variation in biodegradation rate via the usual routes for biodegradable polymers is described, namely, (1) adjustment of molecular weight, (2) substitution of the polymer sub-unit (copolymerization), (3) blending with a slower degrading polymer, or (4) increasing the surface area for hydrolysis by varying the proportion of binder and particles to provide voids or pores in the material.
It is an object of this invention to provide improved resorbable materials and methods for making such materials which address at least some of the shortcomings of the prior art.

Process of making a resorbable implantation device

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


Disclosed are methods for promoting neuronal health and/or development in a subject by providing nutritional compositions comprising docosahexaenoic acid and alpha-lipoic acid. The nutritional composition may further include lactoferrin, a prebiotic, a probiotic, and mixtures thereof. Additionally disclosed are methods for accelerating the development of neuronal activity and/or strengthening electrochemical synapse signaling by providing the nutritional composition(s) disclosed herein to a target subject.

The brain makes up only 2% of total body weight, yet it is a demanding organ that uses up to 30% of the day's calories and nutrients. (Harris, J. J. et al, The Energetics of CNS White Matter. Jour. of. Neuroscience, January 2012: 32(1): 356-371). The human brain and nervous system begin forming very early in prenatal life and both continue to develop until about the age of three. This early development can have lifelong effects on overall brain and nervous system health. Accordingly, brain nutrients can be important additives in the diets of infants, children and pregnant and lactating women because of their ability to promote early brain development and prevent and protect from brain and nervous system injury or illness. Additionally, brain nutrients are important for adults, as many nutrients promote nervous system repair and provide neuroprotective health benefits.
Numerous nutrients are believed to be involved with supporting healthy brain development. Recently, however, it has been discovered herein that ALA, which is also commonly known as lipoic acid ("LA"), may accelerate the development of neuronal activity thus enhancing neuronal development and cognitive function.
Given the early development of the nervous system, what is needed is a method for promoting neuronal health and development, in order to support brain and nervous system health. Accordingly, provided herein are methods for accelerating the development of neuronal activity and/or improving electrochemical synapse signaling in a target subject by providing a nutritional composition comprising ALA. Moreover, these nutritional compositions may have additive and/or synergistic nervous system health benefits.

Methods for promoting neuronal development and/or health


A grill surface or pan provide for the removal of fats and oils by supporting the foodstuffs on ribs that slope downward such that the intervening regions form channels for transporting fluids to the edge of the pan, and away from the cooking food stuffs. The draining channels are interrupted by intervening ribs of a lower height than the first set of foodstuff supporting ribs. The intervening ribs have a series of slits or holes formed in there apex to enable the direct cooking of the foodstuff by radiant heat from a flame or heating source disposed underneath the grill surface. The grill surface may be combined in a pan that provides a peripheral fluid collecting channels at the termination or junction of the draining channels disposed between the sets of rib food supporting and slotted or perforated ribs.

The present invention relates to improved surfaces and pans for grilling foods.
Prior methods of grilling foods involve either pacing food on a wire mesh over an open flame, or a cooking at high temperatures in enclosed pan, the pan having a series of ribs for searing the food in contact therewith, emulating in part the action of the wire mesh in open flame cooking. In the former case fat and liquid is removed from the foods by dripping through the mesh into the flame. In the latter case of pan grilling, the ribs or pan surface is situated to drain the fat away from the food being cooked, lest it reach the level of the supporting ribs and simmer rather than sear the food surface.
Open flame cooking is generally limited to outdoor cooking, as special venting is needed to exhaust the smoke and flames produced by burning fat. However, certain foods are particularly difficult to cook over an open flame. High fat foods, such as hamburgers and chicken, can produce so much liquid fat that the open flame flares up to burn or deposit soot onto the food, unless it is constantly moved or flames are constantly reduced with a water spray.
Grilling pans are frequently deployed in outdoor use to provide removable, washable cooking surface, as opposed to a grid that is very large or permanently installed on a barbeque or fire ring. Such outdoor grill pans, in order to achieve direct radiant heating have openings of some sort on the bottom, For example, they can be formed from closely spaced wires, and can take the form of a basket for retaining and even tossing particular foods, or a slat sheet of metal having a sequence of holes punched therein. Such grill pans with a closer spacing of wires or smaller holes make it easier for the cook to prepare and remove the delicate food from the grill surface with spatula as well as avoid dropping it through the opening in the larger grill surface, which would not support the grill pan. However, such grill pans do not prevent the burning of foods if the cook is not alert and ready to move the pan as dripping grease cause large flares. Alternatively, when such pans utilize a flat surface, to facilitate the removal and turning of delicate food with a spatula, the holes are readily clogged by the food, and hence the food is more likely to be at least partially braised in liquid rather than seared.
Grilling pan for indoor use are known, and frequently deploy sloping channels between supporting ribs to effectively drain the fat and liquid generated during cooking away from the food. However, such grill pans do not achieve the flavor of open flame cooked foods, even when used under an oven broiler, as some burning and sizzling of the fat in an open flame flavors the meat.
One such grill pan which attempts to expose meat to an open flame while draining away at least a portion of the fat or dripping juices as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 1,625,731, issued Apr. 19, 1927. The patent discloses a cooking utensil generally used with an upper and lower grid member. The lower grid member has a surrounding trough for collecting fat drained from slot channels in the upper and lower grid member. Ribs for supporting the meat or other food separate the channels. Slots are formed between the ribs, allowing allowing flame to pass to the upper grid and the meat or food being cooked. The slots are placed between the ribs. The lower grid is oriented with respect to the upper grid channels such that some of the juices will drip to the slots in the lower grid. The patent discloses that a single grid may be deployed instead of the double grid. However, in either case a considerable quantity of fat is liable to drip out through the slots, if they are oriented to allow direct expose to the flame.
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide an improved grilling surface for open flame cooking, which supports delicate foods, yet prevent burning from excess fat dripping into the fire, while at the same time giving the desired flavors of barbeque grill cooking.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pan for indoor grilling that drains the majority of the fat from food without burning, yet allows some flavoring to occur without the need for special exhaust equipment to remove the smoke produced.


There is herein provided a process for Zr-mediated hydroboration of alkynes which offers (E)-vinylboronic esters in high yield with stereoselectivity and regioselectivity.

This invention relates to a process for Zr-mediated hydroboration of alkynes which offers (E)-vinylboronic esters in high yield with stereoselectivity and regioselectivity.
The formation of new asymmetric carbon-carbon bonds can be readily accomplished using a wide range of palladium-catalyzed cross coupling reactions. One of these processes involves the cross coupling reaction of an organometallic derivative with an alkyl or aryl halide with organoborane.
As one type of frequently used synthetic building block, vinylboronic esters can be prepared by hydroboration of alkynes using catecholborane, under harsh reaction conditions.
Preparation of pinacolborane was reported in 1992 and can be used in place of catecholborane. Pinacolborane has an advantage over catecholborane by providing mild reaction conditions, high functional group tolerance and excellent stability.
The transition metal complex catalyzed hydroboration of alkynes includes development of new methodologies and mechanistic studies. Schwartz Reagent (Cp2ZrHCl) has been used to catalyze hydroboration of alkynes with pinacolborane at room temperature. It was found that hydroboration of less reactive alkynes by this method can be sluggish and stereoselectivity towards E-vinylboronic esters is unsatisfactory, especially for oxygen-containing alkynes.
The process of this invention provides a Zr-mediated hydroboration which offers (E)-vinylboronic esters in high yield and excellent stereoselectivity and regioselectivity.

Stereoselective synthesis of (E)-vinylboronic esters via a Zr mediated hydroboration of alkynes


A biometric security system, including a biometric validation module for receiving a biometric profile (such as a fingerprint scan) and asserting a control signal responsive to a biometric evaluation of the biometric profile for securing access to a physical locking storage unit, such as a cabinet. Disclosed is a system that not only provides secured mechanical locking devices for security and access control, it further augments such a system with a computer controlled biometric access control and access monitoring system. The system is managed by central management software which may encompass a standalone configuration or a networked configuration. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a solution that provides a software platform and firmware that provides a control signal controls an electromechanical locking assembly for an electrical physical locking unit, such as a server cabinet having at least one locking/unlocking door panel for gaining entry thereof.

There are many cabinets, drawers, doors and the like that are locked using conventional lock-and-key solutions. This configuration is well known, and numerous implementations of this lock and key solution are used in an extremely wide range of solutions. However, there are known drawbacks of lock-and-key solutions, some of which include being able to be physically compromised and/or broken to gain unauthorized entry into secured areas.
For developers of security systems, the challenge lies in balancing convenience and speed of access along with accuracy and precision in controlling access. Users of physical security systems desire systems which are user-friendly, versatile, customizable, and efficient. This is especially necessary for operations particularly in military, education establishments, and healthcare and in research facilities, each of which demands a high level of security.

Lockable enclosure having improved access system


The PbO-free UV-absorbing glass is made under oxidative conditions and has a composition, in % by weight, of: SiO2, 55-79; B2O3, 3-25; Al2O3, 0-10; Li2O, 0-10; Na2O, 0-10; K2O, 0-10; MgO, 0-2; CaO, 0-3; SrO, 0-3; BaO, 0-3; ZnO, 0-3; ZrO2, 0-3; CeO2, 0-1; Fe2O3, 0-1; WO3, 0-3; Bi2O3, 0-3; MoO3, 0-3; ΣLi2O+Na2O+K2O=0.5 to 16 and ΣMgO+CaO+SrO+BaO+ZnO=0-10. It also contains from 0.1 to 10% TiO2 with at least 95% of the titanium as Ti+4 so that it has a high visible transmission, reduced color centers, and a sharp UV absorption edge. It is especially useful in lamps, display devices and glass-to-metal seals

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method of manufacturing UV-radiation absorbing glass, which has only reduced absorption in the visible range, and to the glass made by this method as well as to its use.
2. Description of the Related Art
Glasses with strong UV-absorbing properties are already known. These glasses are used for making gas discharge tubes and especially fluorescence lights and for making liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Fluorescent lights are used as light sources, especially in back side illuminated displays (so-called back light displays). This type of fluorescent light has very small dimensions and the lamp glass accordingly has only an extremely small thickness. It has been shown that the absorption in the visible range under 1000 nm is considerable despite the reduced thickness. This is disadvantageous, especially in a high-grade display device, such as an electronic display unit, for example a computer screen for laptops, or also in mobile telephones.
Moreover the permeability and/or transmission of especially visible light up to wavelength ranges under 400 nm, especially under 380 nm, is kept comparatively constant in glasses for this sort of application and then drops steeply. Gas discharge lamps, especially fluorescent lamps, emit a large fraction of their radiation in the UV range, which has a damaging effect for surrounding components, such as polymers and other plastic materials. Thus they become brittle after a certain time, which can lead to them becoming unusable. The mercury emission line at 318 nm is especially damaging. It is thus a goal to prepare glass of this type, which completely absorbs this emission line.
Furthermore fluorescent lamp glasses are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,399 A for the above-described applications, which absorb UV-radiation in the desired amounts. However it has been shown that this sort of glass exhibits a strong solarization and a strong discoloration in the visible range. Frequently a yellow-brown coloration arises when the raw material for these lamp glasses melts.
A zirconium-oxide-containing and lithium-oxide-containing borosilicate glass of high resistance is known from DE-A 198 42 942, which is especially suitable for use as sealing glass for sealing with Fe—Co—Ni alloys. This sort of glass can also contained colored ingredients, such as Fe2O3, Cr2O3, CoO and TiO2.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,791 A glass is described for opthalmologic applications, which has a special index of refraction and Abbé number, and a suitable density for that application. This sort of glass has a UV absorption limit or edge between 310 nm and 335 nm and contains TiO2 as UV absorber. For manufacture of this glass this reference expressly teaches that refining with chlorine is required, since refining with As2O3 and with Sb2O3 is not sufficient. Finally the reference teaches that although these glasses are extremely thin, a combination of Fe2O3 and TiO2 leads to a discoloration of the glass so that quartz raw material should be used exclusively with an iron content of less than 100 ppm.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

UV-radiation absorbing glass with reduced absorption of visible light and method of making and using same


Disclosed is a specimen processing system that includes means 91 circularly disposed to carry a reaction vessel 2 used for separating and extracting desired substances from a specimen to be processed, a plurality of processing steps, executed as processing progresses along a transport line for the reaction vessel 2 on the transport means 91, for conducting various processes upon the specimen to be processed that is accommodated in the reaction vessel 2, suctioning and discharging means 94 that dispenses the specimen from a specimen container 1 supplied to the system, into the reaction vessel 2, and a filtering vessel section 2b provided as a part of the reaction vessel 2. This system configuration allows realization of a rapid preprocessing system capable of reducing the number of disposable parts of a low carry-over type, suppressing a decrease in cost performance, operating with high collection efficiency, and employing compact devices.

Various techniques exist for the separation and extraction of target constituents from a specimen of a mixture of various constituent. The techniques are such that utilizes the physical properties derived from the molecular sizes, molecular weights, molecular shapes of the desired constituents, or biochemical properties such as solubility or affinity. For example, separation technology such as chromatography has been widely developed for the extraction of trace constituents contained in blood or other biological specimens. Development of separation techniques and optimization of methods using appropriate separation columns, solid-phase extraction packing sorbents, magnetic beads, etc., according to the target constituents, has been achieved. In addition, the volumes of specimens useable for preprocessing tend to become increasingly smaller, and in such tendency, a higher yield and more accurate separation/extraction are demanded. In accordance with these progress and advancement of separation/extraction techniques, a more efficient preprocessing system, that can meet the increase in the number of kinds of reaction solutions and steps used for separation/extraction, and is capable of separating/extracting target constituents from smaller quantities of specimens, is demanded.
The immunosuppressant drugs administered to organ transplant recipients, for example, tend to have high lipid-solubility and high partition ratio into blood cells. Therefore, upon measuring the concentration of an administered immunosuppressant drug in blood, it is necessary to preprocess by hemolyzing whole blood and removing the internal contents of the blood cells, and then extracting the drug adsorbed onto proteins or the like.
In general, hemolyzing can be executed by applying chemical, physical, or biological mechanisms. For example, hemolysis can be chemically caused by using various solvents or surface-active agents and thereby dissolving or damaging the lipids that constitute cell membranes. Applicable physical methods include pressurizing, centrifuging, mixing, freezing and thawing, hypotonizing (hypotensioning), and so on. Useable biological methods include forming transmembrane protein complexes by means of antibody binding or complement binding to the blood cells, forming holes/pores in the blood cell membranes using the hemolysins produced by pathogenic bacteria, and more.
Particularly, blood cell bursting by hypotonization is simple in principle. It is a method that ruptures cell membranes by reducing the salt concentration of blood with H2O (or the like) to reduce osmotic pressure around the blood cells, and thus causing excessive uptake of water into the blood cells. Normal saline solutions generally have a concentration equivalent to 0.90% NaCl, and it is known to cause hemolysis if diluted to a concentration equivalent to 0.50%-0.35% NaCl.
In addition, γ (gamma)-globulin and other key proteins present in large quantities in blood can be condensed and precipitated by applying the chelating effect of zinc. For this purpose, a method of conducting protein removal simultaneously with hemolyzing by adding a zinc sulfate solution, instead of H2O, to the blood is commonly used as an alternative method, which is also used for ZTT (Zinc sulfate Turbidity Testing) as well.
Another alternative method for collecting the desired constituents adsorbed onto the proteins in blood is deproteinization. Deproteinization is a process in which an organic solvent is added to a hemolyzed specimen to denature proteins and to extract desired constituents into the organic solvent. Centrifuging is generally provided to separate condensed proteins and a supernatant, and then to collect the supernatant. The deproteinization process is performed to condense and remove the proteins included in diverse forms and large volumes in blood. Conducting such process allows specimens derived from whole blood to be processed in the same manner as serum or plasma specimens.
As discussed above, organic solvents also yield a hemolytic effect. Therefore, hemolyzation and deproteinization may be conducted by adding an organic solvent to blood directly. Further, in order to complement the deproteinization effect in such cases, the foregoing method adding zinc sulfate may also be applied.
Performing the above-described process to a whole-blood specimen allows drugs with high blood cell partition ratio to be collected in a solution state. The specimen can then be subjected to purifying operations such as solid-phase extraction or liquid chromatographic separation. Typically, a supernatant collected after deproteinization is then dried up, and is redissolved in a solution of an appropriate volume so as to reduce the amount of liquid and to concentrate target constituents. After this, the redissolved solution is subjected to, for example, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) or the like, whereby the concentrated target constituents are separated/purified and detected for subsequent identification and quantitative analysis.
The specimens from which the target constituents are separated and extracted using any one of those techniques are usually composed of various substances and constituents exhibiting different properties. To extract the desired trace constituents efficiently, the specimens need to undergo preprocessing such as specimen preparation and pre-purification to achieve an extractable state. Two basic technical elements used in common for such preprocessing are, a technique of dispensing solution and mixing the specimen with a reaction solution or the like by mixing, and a filtering technique. One technical problem associated with dispensing and mixing is carry-over problem during the preprocessing, where during continuous preprocessing of a plurality of specimens to be assayed for target substances of low concentrations, the trace quantities of constituents contained in one preprocessed specimen are left as a contaminant in the dispensing/mixing mechanisms or filtering mechanism of the preprocessing apparatus after the preprocessing of that specimen. This carry-over during the preprocessing of one specimen will reduce the accuracy of separation/extraction of the next specimen. This can be prevented by thoroughly cleaning the internal parts of the apparatus after the preprocessing of the previous specimen. Another method to prevent this problem is removing, for each specimen, parts that are likely to remain contaminated such as the dispensing pipettes, mixing parts, filtering parts, and others, and replacing these parts with exchangeable ones (hereinafter, called disposable parts). The other method is integrating these parts or using parts of common specifications to reduce the number of disposable parts.
Non-Patent Document 1 describes examples of preprocessing and separation/extraction techniques for specimens, the techniques required in measuring the concentration of an immunosuppressant drug in whole blood by means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. According to Non-Patent Document 1, preprocessing and separation/extraction processes conducted prior to the measurement of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry include:
(a) Hemolyzation (blood dissolving) by adding pure water or the like to whole blood,
(b) protein precipitation by adding zinc sulfate and/or methanol after the hemolyzation,
(c) centrifugation for removing the precipitated proteins, and
(d) solid-phase extraction of the supernatant cleared of the precipitated proteins, to further remove impurities likely to interfere with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
As a method for removing protein sediments that do not use centrifugation, a method is also known where the solution is forcibly passed through a filter and the protein sediments stuck to the filter is removed. However, although individual apparatuses dedicated for the steps of preprocessing methods (a), (b), (c), (d) are generally well known, there is no apparatus that has fully automated steps (a) to (d).
For example, if the protein sediments in step (b) remain to be further processed, impurities will be redissolved from the sediments during the washing and eluting phases of solid-phase extraction step (d). The impurities will significantly deteriorate the accuracy of subsequent mass spectrometric measurement. It is therefore necessary to remove the sediments in step (c).
The operations spanning these steps are difficult to automate, and thus, these operations have traditionally been performed with manual operation. This has increased the number of containers/vessels and implements used for temporary collection of the solution between steps and for the dispensing operations in the next steps. Additionally, due to trace constituents sticking to these containers/vessels and implements, a carry-over as well as a loss in the collection, reduction in total analytical sensitivity and accuracy are caused, and therefore obstructing the analyzable volumes of specimens to become smaller.
Patent Document 1 relates to an example of a batch-processing type of solid-phase extraction technique as preprocessing for separating and extracting target constituents from specimens to be processed. In this conventional technique, a solid-phase extraction plate is formed with 96 solid-phase extraction columns for accommodating the specimens and is mounted in an upper vacuum rack, which is set on a horizontally and vertically movable mechanism. The upper vacuum rack is pressed against a lower vacuum rack, and each specimen is suctioned from the lower vacuum rack by a vacuum pump. Consequently, the target constituents are adsorbed onto a filter provided in each solid-phase extraction column, and the target constituents adsorbed onto the filter are eluted and extracted. Patent Document 1 also discloses that a low-carryover type disposable pipette/nozzle tip is used to dispense the specimen. Further, a method of mixing by suctioning/discharging solution with the disposable pipette/nozzle tip to achieve low-carryover mixing is disclosed.
The automated solid-phase extraction process according to Patent Document 1 is of a batch-processing type, so that efficient preprocessing is possible when the number of specimens to be preprocessed and assayed is an integral multiple of the number of specimens (96), which the solid-phase extraction plate can retain. The number of specimens to be actually preprocessed, however, is not always fixed. Using a fixed number of solid-phase extraction columns (96 pieces), as in the conventional technique, therefore, has usually caused some of the wells (solid-phase extraction columns) to remain unused. A decrease in efficiency was thus inevitable, where relative cost of analysis increased, and waste disposal volume increased.
In addition to the above-mentioned problem of deterioration in cost performance, when specimens are needed to be analyzed chronologically sequentially and randomly, a problem such that preprocessing of the next specimen can not be started until the earlier started preprocessing is completed occurs. That is, specimens can not be continuously loaded into the preprocessing apparatus. This leads to an increase in turn-around-time (TAT), a waiting time taken until analytical results are obtained.
Further, whereas the well plate that forms the large number of wells (96 pieces) allows simultaneous movement of the specimens accommodated in the wells, the well plate itself is of a relatively large size. Due to this, spaces are required for storage/retraction of the well plates, for operations such as dispensing, mixing, pressurization, and filtering, for installing the devices required for movement and various processing operations, and the like. As a result, reduction in the size of apparatuses has been obstructed.
Patent Documents 2 and 3 relate to known examples of an automatic analyzer, which conducts optical measurement after executing preprocessing for separation/extraction of target constituents by causing reactions with a reaction reagent that contains magnetic beads, and separating/extracting analytic molecules. The Patent Documents 2, 3 also discloses a technique relating to a disposable dispensing pipette used for preprocessing, for reducing carry-over. These conventional techniques, unlike the technique in Patent Document 1, employ sequential preprocessing, not batch-based preprocessing. Therefore, the disadvantages of the technique in Patent Document 1, that is, disadvantages appearing when a specific number of specimens (96 pieces) is not reached, such as the analytical cost increase, waste parts increase, and TAT increase due to incapability of continuous loading can be avoided. In these known techniques, however, as described in Patent Document 3, if dispensing/mixing is conducted so as to achieve minimum carry-over for each of a plurality of reaction steps in preprocessing, related parts need to be replaced with new disposable parts for each step of reactions, during a first reagent step and a second reagent step. This replacement has led to increases in the number of disposable parts consumed and the number of disposable parts to be retained by devices.


A top layer comprises a flexible support and a plurality of hard elements anchored in a binder over the flexible support, and a method of forming the same is provided. In one embodiment, certain ones of the hard elements have a contact surface adapted to contact the conductive surface, with the binder being disposed below the contact surface of each of the certain ones of the hard elements. In another embodiment, the top layer comprises a flexible support, a plurality of hard elements are anchored in a binder over the flexible support such that certain ones of the hard elements have a top surface and the binder is disposed below the top surface of each of the certain ones of the hard elements, and a hard material coating is disposed over the plurality of hard elements and the binder, thereby creating a contact surface of the hard material coating at locations corresponding to the top surface of the certain ones of the hard elements.

Conventional semiconductor devices generally include a semiconductor substrate, usually a silicon substrate, and a plurality of sequentially formed dielectric inter-layers and conductive paths or interconnects made of conductive materials. Copper and copper alloys have recently received considerable attention as interconnect materials because of their superior electromigration and low resistivity characteristics. The interconnects are usually formed by filling copper by a metallization process in features or cavities etched into the dielectric inter-layers. The preferred method of copper metallization is electroplating. In an integrated circuit, multiple levels of interconnect networks laterally extend with respect to the substrate surface. Interconnects formed in sequential interlayers can be electrically connected using vias or contacts.
In a typical interconnect fabrication process, first, an insulating interlayer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Patterning and etching processes are performed to form features such as trenches and vias in the insulating layer. Then, copper is electroplated to fill all the features after a conductive barrier and a seed layer are deposited. The plating process results in a thick copper layer on the substrate some of which need to be removed before the subsequent step. Conventionally, after the copper plating, CMP process is employed to globally planarize and then reduce the thickness of this excess copper overburden down to the level of the surface of the barrier layer, which is then also removed, leaving conductors only in the features. However, CMP process is a costly and time-consuming process that needs to be reduced.
The adverse effects of conventional material removal technologies such as CMP may be minimized or overcome by employing an Electrochemical Mechanical Processing (ECMPR) approach for conductor deposition. ECMPR has the ability to provide thin layers of planar conductive material on the workpiece surface, or even provide a workpiece surface with no or little excess conductive material. The term of Electrochemical Mechanical Processing (ECMPR) is used to include both Electrochemical Mechanical Deposition (ECMD) processes as well as Electrochemical Mechanical Etching (ECME), which is also called Electrochemical Mechanical Polishing (ECMP). It should be noted that in general both ECMD and ECME processes are referred to as ECMPR since both involve electrochemical processes and mechanical action.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary conventional ECMPR system 10, which includes a workpiece-surface-influencing device (WSID) 12 such as a mask, pad or a sweeper, a carrier head 14 holding a workpiece 15 and an electrode 16. Other conventional ECMPR systems include those that have reverse geometry, i.e. WSID is above the workpiece and the workpiece surface faces up.
During ECMD or ECME processes, the WSID 12 may be held in close proximity of the workpiece surface, i.e., no-touch processing, or may mechanically sweep the surface of the workpiece, i.e. touch-processing, while a relative motion is established between the workpiece surface and the WSID.
Surface of the WSID 12 mechanically sweeps the surface of the workpiece 15 while an electrical potential is established, at least during a portion of the total process time, between the electrode 16 and the surface of the workpiece during touch-processing. Channels 18 of the WSID 12 allow a process solution 20 such as an electrolyte to flow to the surface of the workpiece 15. If the ECMD process is carried out, the surface of the workpiece 15 is wetted by a deposition electrolyte, which is also in fluid contact with the electrode 16 and a potential is applied between the surface of the workpiece and the electrode rendering the workpiece surface cathodic. If the ECME process is carried, out, the surface of the workpiece is wetted by the deposition electrolyte or a special etching or electroetching or polishing liquid, which is also in fluid contact with an electrode and a potential is applied between the surface of the workpiece and the electrode rendering the workpiece surface anodic. Thus, etching takes place on the workpiece surface. Very thin planar deposits can be obtained by first depositing a planar layer using an ECMD technique and then using an ECME technique on the planar film in the same electrolyte by reversing the applied voltage. Alternately, the ECME step can be carried out in a separate machine and a different etching electrolyte. This way the thickness of the deposit may be reduced in a planar manner.
Descriptions of various planar deposition and planar etching methods, i.e. ECMPR approaches and apparatus can be found in the following patents and pending applications, all commonly owned by the assignee of the invention: U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,992 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Electrochemical Mechanical Deposition," U.S. application Ser. No. 09/740,701 entitled "Plating Method and Apparatus that Creates a Differential Between Additive Disposed on a Top Surface and a Cavity Surface of a Workpiece Using an External Influence," filed on Dec. 18, 2001, and U.S. application Ser. No. filed on Sep. 20, 2001 with Ser. No. 09/961,193 entitled "Plating Method and Apparatus for Controlling Deposition on Predetermined Portions of a Workpiece". These methods can deposit metals in and over cavity sections on a workpiece in a planar manner. They also have the capability of yielding novel structures with excess amount of metals selectively over the features irrespective of their size, if desired.
The surface of the WSID preferably contains a hard and abrasive material for efficient sweeping, although softer materials may also be used if high planarization efficiency is not necessary for the specific application or the workpiece surface contains materials that are structurally weak. U.S. application with Ser. No. 09/960,236 filed on Sep. 20, 2001, entitled "Mask Plate Design," and U.S. Utility Application filed on May 23, 2002 entitled "Low Force Electrochemical Mechanical Processing Method and Apparatus," that claims priority from application Ser. No. 60/326,087 filed on Sep. 28, 2001, all assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, disclose various workpiece-surface-influencing device embodiments. Fixed abrasive sheets or pads, which are supplied by companies such as 3M and which are commonly used in CMP applications, work efficiently also on WSID surfaces for ECMPR applications. As exemplified in FIG. 2, such abrasive sheets 30 generally comprise abrasive composites 32 that have a discernible precise shape such as pyramidal or cylindrical. The abrasive composite shapes include a plurality of abrasive grains 34 dispersed in a binder 36. The abrasive composite is bonded to a backing layer 38 through some bonding agent or film (not shown).
During a CMP process, the top surface 33 of the abrasive sheet is used to abrade and polish a workpiece surface by pressing the workpiece surface onto the top surface 33 or vice versa. As polishing action continues, the abrasive composite shapes break down slowly and expose unused abrasive grains embedded in the binder. Thus, the height "H" of composite shape shown in FIG. 2 gets smaller and smaller. As the sheet is used for an extended time, the composite shapes further break down and expose more fresh abrasive grains. Eventually, when the height H of the composite shapes is close to zero, the sheet is replaced. As the brief review above demonstrates the so-called "fixed-abrasive pads" described above actually do not permanently fixed within a matrix. In fact, they are designed to slowly break down, exposing a new surface with fresh abrasive particles.
During the process, the wafer surface makes contact with the abrasive particles as well as the matrix material surrounding them. The matrix material is generally a polymeric material. This design of a composite abrasive film is attractive for CMP applications where the polishing products, including the breakdown products of the abrasive film are washed off the surface of the wafer along with the material removed from the surface of the wafer. For an ECMPR process, however, the surface of the WSID touches the wafer surface during film deposition, before all the features or cavities on the wafer surface are filled with the conductor. Due to the constant breaking down of the composite abrasive layer, such abrasive sheets have relatively short lifetime and need to be replaced often, e.g. every 100-1000 wafers. Also constant shedding of minute abrasive grains, matrix or binder pieces into the process solutions may pollute the process solution, and may even get included in the deposited layers, which are undesirable situations.
For ECME applications, similarly, particle shedding by the pads is undesirable. Other materials that may be used on the surface of the WSID structures that make physical contact to the wafer surface during ECMPR include polymeric pads that are commonly used in CMP applications. These polymeric pads are supplied by companies such as Rodel and Thomas West. The polymeric materials, however, are not very durable in electrolytes of ECMPR. They wear in time and shed microscopic polymeric particles, which may in turn get into the copper film that is deposited. Such drawbacks lower throughput of ECMPR process, increase cost of consumables and also adversely affect product consistency.
Therefore, it will be desirable to provide a longer life WSID surface that does not shed harmful particles for ECMPR applications such as ECMD and ECME.

Long-life workpiece surface influencing device structure and manufacturing method


A method for monitoring tank water replacement of a kitchenware washing assembly generally includes automatically determining whether a counted number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds a preset value. The method also includes automatically controlling one or more operations of the kitchenware washer assembly where the counted number of wash cycles is equal to or exceeds the preset value.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Commercial washers have been in the marketplace for decades. Many of the commercial washers that are currently on the market include multiple tanks for various cleaning stages (e.g., a scraping tank, washing tank, rinsing tank, and sanitizing tank). The washing tank, at a basic level, typically includes features such as a rectangular tank with a drain, a valve for closing the tank's drain, nozzles attached to walls of the tank for directing water down into the tank, and a pump to circulate water from within the tank into a manifold that feeds the water through the nozzles.

Commercial kitchenware washers and related methods


A circuit for compressing and expanding video data comprises a FIFO line memory and an interpolator. A timing circuit generates control signals for writing data into the line memory and for reading data from the line memory to compress and expand the data. The interpolator smooths the data expanded or to be compressed in the FIFO line memory. A switching network selectively establishes a first signal path in which the line memory precedes the interpolator for implementing the data expansion and a second signal path in which the interpolator precedes the line memory for implementing the data compression. The switching network is controlled according to selected display formats requiring compression or expansion, for example by a microprocessor.

The invention relates to the field of televisions, for example those televisions having a wide display format ratio screen, which must interpolate video data to implement various display formats. Most televisions today have a format display ratio, horizontal width to vertical height, of 4:3. A wide format display ratio corresponds more closely to the display format ratio of movies, for example 16:9. The invention is applicable to both direct view televisions and projection televisions.
Televisions having a format display ratio of 4:3, often referred to as 4.times.3, are limited in the ways that single and multiple video signal sources can be displayed. Television signal transmissions of commercial broadcasters, except for experimental material, are broadcast with a 4.times.3 format display ratio. Many viewers find the 4.times.3 display format less pleasing than the wider format display ratio associated with the movies. Televisions with a wide format display ratio provide not only a more pleasing display, but are capable of displaying wide display format signal sources in a corresponding wide display format. Movies "look" like movies, not cropped or distorted versions thereof. The video source need not be cropped, either when converted from film to video, for example with a telecine device, or by processors in the television.
Televisions with a wide display format ratio are also suited to a wide variety of displays for both conventional and wide display format signals, as well as combinations thereof in multiple picture displays. However, the use of a wide display ratio screen entails numerous problems. Changing the display format ratios of multiple signal sources, developing consistent timing signals from asynchronous but simultaneously displayed sources, switching between multiple sources to generate multiple picture displays, and providing high resolution pictures from compressed data signals are general categories of such problems. Such problems are solved in a wide screen television according to this invention. A wide screen television according to various inventive arrangements is capable of providing high resolution, single and multiple picture displays, from single and multiple sources having similar or different format ratios, and with selectable display format ratios.
Televisions with a wide display format ratio can be implemented in television systems displaying video signals both at basic or standard horizontal scanning rates and multiples thereof, as well as by both interlaced and noninterlaced scanning. Standard NTSC video signals, for example, are displayed by interlacing the successive fields of each video frame, each field being generated by a raster scanning operation at a basic or standard horizontal scanning rate of approximately 15,734 Hz. The basic scanning rate for video signals is variously referred to as f.sub.H, 1f.sub.H, and 1H. The actual frequency of a 1f.sub.H signal will vary according to different video standards. In accordance with efforts to improve the picture quality of television apparatus, systems have been developed for is displaying video signals progressively, in a noninterlaced fashion. Progressive scanning requires that each displayed frame must be scanned in the same time period allotted for scanning one of the two fields of the interlaced format. Flicker free AA-BB displays require that each field be scanned twice, consecutively. In each case, the horizontal scanning frequency must be twice that of the standard horizontal frequency. The scanning rate for such progressively scanned or flicker free displays is variously referred to as 2f.sub.H and 2H. A 2f.sub.H scanning frequency according to standards in the United States, for example, is approximately 31,468 Hz.
Considerable signal processing of the main video signal is necessary to implement many of the display formats which are especially appropriate for a wide screen television. The video data must be selectively compressed and expanded, depending upon the desired format. In one case, for example, it is necessary to compress the 4.times.3 NTSC video by a factor of 4/3, or 4:3, to avoid aspect ratio distortion of the displayed picture. In the other case, for example, the video can be expanded to perform horizontal zooming operations usually accompanied by vertical zooming. Horizontal zoom operations up to 33% can be accomplished by performing compressions less than 4/3, for example 5/4. A sample interpolator is used to recalculate the incoming video to a new pixel, positions because the luminance video bandwidth, up to 5.5 MHz for S-VHS format, occupies a large percentage of the Nyquist or fold over frequency, which is 8 MHz for a 1024f.sub.H system clock.

Luminance processing system for compressing and expanding video data


A heavy duty carriage includes a carriage body, a load receiving platform horizontally rotatably mounted on a top of the carriage body, and a plurality of caster bodies each horizontally rotatably supported by a caster shaft in a lower part of the carriage body. Each of the caster bodies has, in a lower part thereof, a front wheel rotatably supported by a front wheel shaft and rear wheels each rotatably supported by a rear wheel shaft. The front wheel and the rear wheels are positioned forward and rearward of an axial center of the caster shaft on a straight line in a horizontal direction. When the carriage body is placed on a floor surface and outer circumferences of the rear wheels contact the floor surface, an outer circumference of the front wheel does not contact the floor surface. By using four heavy duty carriages, the heavy object can be moved.

FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 illustrate conventional heavy duty carriages. As illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22, these heavy duty carriages are used by being placed underneath a heavy object. These conventional arts are similar to those disclosed in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, for example. The carriage has a structure in which a load receiving platform is provided on a body and a plurality of rotatably supported rollers are provided in a lower part of the body. At least four such carriages are used by being inserted into four corners underneath a heavy object (e.g., a piece of furniture) so that, while supporting the heavy object, the carriages can integrally move with the heavy object by utilizing the load applied from the heavy object.
Patent Document 1: JP3,051,835U
Patent Document 2: JP2010-143419A
Patent Document 3: JP2015-024800A


A vehicle sun visor system and method for powering the vehicle sun visor are provided herein, and include a generator configured to produce a first current via kinetic motion. A converter is electrically coupled to the generator and configured to convert the first current into a second current. An energy storing device is electrically coupled to the converter and configured to store an electrical charge. An illumination source is electrically coupled to the energy storing device and configured to operate between an ON and an OFF state, wherein during the ON state, the electrical charge stored in the energy storing device is discharged to supply electrical power to the illumination source.

Current vehicle visors rely on a vehicle power source to power illumination sources on the visor. The power is typically supplied by wires extending from the vehicle's instrument panel and up to the visor. This type of wire connection is often performed manually and requires additional parts such as wire harnesses. As a result, the cost and labor associated with including these visors may be increased. Thus, there is a need for a less prohibitive alternative.

Vehicle sun visor with illumination powered by kinetic motion


A paint in a paint pan is picked up through a gap h.sub.PA formed between a pickup roll and an applicator roll, part of the paint is attached to the applicator roll and delivered to a sheet as a supply flow rate q.sub.A. The film thickness coated on the sheet is controlled in accordance with a model equation: M={(q.sub.A -q.sub.L).multidot..gamma..multidot.C}/LS which has evaluated a difference between the supply flow rate q.sub.A and a leak flow rate q.sub.L not transferred onto the sheet, remaining on the applicator roll and escaping through a gap h.sub.AS (.gamma. is the specific gravity of the paint, C the concentration of a solid content of the paint and LS a moving speed of the sheet).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of controlling thickness of the coated film on the web-like member by the roll coater, and more particularly to a method of controlling thickness of the coated film on the web-like member by the roll coater, wherein, when coating is performed continuously on the web-like member such as cold-rolled steel plate by the roll coater, the film thickness can be controlled at high accuracy.
2. Prior Art
With the steel sheets, in order to improve the performance such as corrosion resistance, for example, there has been commonly practiced coating of chrome, resin and the like is made on a galvanized steel sheet.
The above-described coating onto the steel sheet is performed such that the steel sheet paid off from a payoff reel in an inlet facility, while being continuously conveyed, passes through processes including a degreasing process, a coating process by use of a roll coater and a drying process by use of an oven (same process is repeated as necessary). Then, the steel sheet after the coating is adapted to be wound up by a wound-up device in an outlet facility.
In general, the roll coater used for continuous coating of the steel sheet includes a steel pickup roll for picking up a paint in a paint pan and a rubber-lined applicator roll for receiving the paint from the pickup roll and for transferring and coating the paint onto the surface of the steel sheet. When the coating is performed by use of this roll coater, the control of the thickness of the coated film is performed by suitably controlling the circumferential speeds of rolls, an urging force between the pickup roll and the applicator roll and an urging force between the steel sheet and the applicator roll with respect to a conveying speed of the steel sheet.
Now, in the recent years, the coated steel sheets have been used for the wider application in the domestic electrical equipment, motor vehicles, building materials and the like, whereby the material quality required by the demands such as the improved anticorrosion performance is raised and the accuracy of the thickness of the coated film comes to be very strict.
Heretofore, as the method of controlling the thickness of the coated film in the coating by use of the roll coater, there has been known a method of controlling the urging force between the pickup roll and the applicator roll and the urging force between the steel sheet and the applicator roll at predetermined values constantly as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6268/1983, and Patent Application Publications No. 56553/1985 and No. 41077/1987, for example, and a method of controlling the urging force between the pickup roll and the applicator roll in accordance with data concerning the relationship between the urging force and the thickness of coated film in the coating in the past as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 166959/1983 and Patent Application Publication No. 23225/1991, for example. However, as for the specific details of the methods of controlling and model equations, there is none described at all.
Furthermore, as another method of controlling the thickness of the coated film, such a method has been adopted that there is used a control equation based on only the circumferential speeds of the rolls and the moving speed of the steel sheet, and determined by the experimental regression.
Subsequently, explanation will be given of the case of continuously coating the rear surface of the web-like member, as in the case of both surfaces coating.
In general, in the process of continuously coating the both surfaces of the web-like member such as the steel sheet, as shown in FIG. 43, first, the front surface of a steel sheet S is coated by a first roll coater 10 at the first stage, subsequently, the rear surface is coated by a second roll coater 20, thereafter, the steel sheet is passed through a heating furnace 22 for drying and passed through a cooling furnace 24 for cooling, and delivered to the succeeding process. Incidentally, in the drawing, reference numeral 26 is a lift roll and 28 an outlet side fulcrum roll.
The above-described first roll coater 10 is constituted by a pickup roll 14 for picking up a paint P in a paint pan (paint pool), an applicator roll 16 for delivering part of the paint P picked up by the pickup roll 14 and transferring the paint onto the steel sheet S, and a backup roll 18 for urging the steel sheet S against the applicator roll 16 when the paint is transferred by the applicator roll 16. The above-described second roll coater 20 has the substantially same construction as the first roll coater 10 except for it has no backup roll.
When the both surfaces of the steel sheet S are coated, the steel sheet S is passed between the applicator roll 16 and the backup roll 18 in a state where the steel sheet S is wound around the backup roll 18 of the roll coater 10 to thereby coat the front surface, and subsequently, the rear surface is coated by passing the steel sheet S over the second roll coater 20, with the steel sheet S continuously conveyed in a catenary shape (in a suspended state) being pushed up by the applicator roll 16 of the second roll coater 20 from below.
At this time, the thickness of the film coated on the steel sheet S is greatly influenced by the urging force between the steel sheet S and the applicator roll 16, so that it becomes important to control the urging force to a target value. However, when the front surface is coated by the above-described first roll coater 10, the urging force between the steel sheet S and the applicator roll 16 can be positively controlled by the backup roll 18, whereas, when the rear surface is coated by the second roll coater 20, the urging force between the steel sheet S and the applicator roll 16 is determined by a tension acting on the steel sheet S, so that the urging force cannot be positively controlled.
Therefore, when the rear surface of the steel sheet S is coated by the above-described second roll coater 20, it is conceived that coating is made with the catenary shape being held constant. In order to hold the catenary shape constant as described above, in the steady state where the steel sheets S which are identical with one another are continuously coated, a unit tension (tension / sectional area of the steel sheet) should be controlled to a constant value. However, for example, when a preceding steel sheet and a succeeding steel sheet, which are different in size from each other, jointed together and have a sheet joint point (connecting portion) where the sectional areas of the both steel sheets differ from each other, are coated, at the time of the unsteady state where the sheet joint point passes through the catenary, the tension should be changed every moment to limit the fluctuations in the catenary shape to the minimum.
As a method of changing the tension with time when the sheet joint point passes through the catenary, there is a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 305750/1990, for example. This is a method wherein the tension in the catenary is calculated from tracking information of the joint position between the long materials being present in the catenary and being different in size or material quality, and information of the respective sizes and material qualities of the preceding material and the succeeding material which are present in front and back of the joint position, the height of the catenary is successively calculated in accordance with the joint position from the above-described tracking information, information of the sizes and material qualities and the calculated catenary tension, the catenary tension is monitored, and an excessive catenary tension or the fluctuations of the height of the lowest point of the catenary are suppressed in association with a deviation between the catenary height and the height of the catenary before the joint position enters the catenary, or by increasing or decreasing the speed of delivering the long materials when the catenary tension exceeds a predetermined value.
As described above, to hold constant the catenary shape, it is necessary to change the tension in accordance with the passing position of the sheet joint point when the sheet joint point of the steel sheets different in sectional area from each other passes through the catenary section, whereby the urging force between the steel sheet S and the applicator roll 16 is adapted to be changed every moment.
When the above-described urging force to the applicator roll 16 is changed as described above, as the coating conditions are typically shown in FIG. 44, when the urging force N.sub.A comes to be lower than the target value, the leak flow rate q.sub.L of the paint P escaping through without being transferred to the steel sheet S becomes higher, whereby the coating build-up onto the steel sheet S becomes lower than that at the time of the steady state. On the contrary, when the urging force N.sub.A comes to be higher than the target value, the leak flow rate q.sub.L is decreased, whereby the coating build-up onto the steel sheet S becomes higher.
When the coating build-up onto the steel sheet S changes as the urging force N.sub.A changes every moment, the thickness of the coated film should necessarily change; increasing or decreasing, thus resulting in defects of quality.
To explain this specifically, when the sheet joint point is passing through the catenary section, in spite of that the tension acting on the catenary section changes every moment so as to change the tension of the preceding steel sheet (the tension of the preceding steel sheet for holding the catenary shape) into the tension of the succeeding steel sheet (the tension of the succeeding steel sheet for holding the catenary shape), heretofore, upon passing of the sheet joint point over the applicator roll 16, a nip pressure (urging force) Np has been immediately set because the tension of the succeeding steel sheet is regarded as being realized, whereby, there has be such a problem that, when the preceding steel sheet (designated as the preceding material in the drawing) is larger in sectional area than the succeeding steel sheet (designated as the succeeding material in the drawing) as shown in FIG. 45, in spite of that chromate coating having a target film thickness of 50 mg/m.sup.2 is performed for example, the coating weight is changed greatly.
Then, heretofore, to prevent the change in the coating weight accompanied by the passing of the sheet joint point over the applicator roll 16, when the steel sheets greatly different in sectional area from each other are continuously coated, to compensate the difference in the ratio of sectional area therebetween, connecting steel sheet having values of sectional areas between the above-described steel sheets have been successively connected so as to be included within predetermined ratio of the sectional areas, so that the ratio of the sectional areas at the sheet joint point between the preceding steel sheet and the succeeding steel sheet can be limited to be low, thus avoiding the great change in coating weight.
However, with the method of controlling the urging forces between the rolls to the constant values as disclosed in the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6268/1983 and the like, the thickness of the coated film greatly changes according to the coating conditions such as the types of paints, the circumferential speed of the roll such as the applicator roll and the moving speeds of the steel sheets, so that it is difficult to control the thickness of the coated film to the constant value over the wide ranges of the coating conditions.
Further, rubber lined on the applicator roll is expanded and moistened by the thinner in the paint, whereby the elastic modulus (function of hardness) thereof is changed with time. Accordingly, when the urging force between the pickup roll and the applicator roll is set at a constant value, the expansion and moistening of the rubber progress, and the expansion and moistening are increased in degree, the surface pressure between the rolls is decreased, whereby the paint passing between the rolls is increased in quantities, thus increasing the thickness of the coated film.
Furthermore, in order to remove the influence due to the expansion and moistening of the rubber, it becomes necessary to perform the work for stabilizing the expansion and moistening (work for driving only the roll coater without performing the coating) for one or two hours until the expansion and moistening are stabilized, thus greatly deteriorating the production efficiency in this case.
Furthermore, with the method of controlling the urging force between the pickup roll and the applicator roll in accordance with the data in the past as disclosed in the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 166959/1983 and the like, it is necessary to previously determine through experiments the conditions for setting at the predetermined values the types of paints, the degrees of dilution, the moving speeds of the steel sheets, the circumferential speeds of rolls, the target thickness of the coated film and the like, thus requiring much time and labor. Furthermore, in the case of this method, assurance is not obtained of that the change with time of the elastic modulus of the rubber of the applicator roll due to the expansion and moistening is always constant, so that no assurance can be obtained of the thickness of the coated film for the steel sheets used for motor vehicles, which require the strict accuracy in the thickness of the coated film.
Furthermore, with a method of controlling, wherein only the circumferential speed of the pickup roll, the circumferential speed of the applicator roll and the moving speeds of the steel sheets are evaluated and coefficients are determined experimentally through the regression, such problems are presented that a long period of time (one year, for example) is required before the stabilized control can be obtained, and moreover, the range of control to be applied is limited.
Further, for example, when the rear surface of the steel sheet is continuously coated by the second roll coater as shown in FIG. 43, if the method of reducing the ratio of sectional area between the preceding steel sheet and the succeeding steel sheet to a lower value is adopted, then, necessity for preparing a large quantity of connecting steel sheets occurs when the difference in the ratio of sectional area is large, and a period of time for threading the connecting steel sheets intervening becomes large, thus forming bottlenecks in improving the productivity.

Method of controlling thickness of coated film on web-like member by roll coater


A level shift circuit includes two high-voltage PMOS, two high-voltage NMOS, and two low-voltage NMOS transistors. The first high-voltage PMOS is connected between a high voltage and a second output terminal, having a gate connected to a first output terminal. The second high-voltage PMOS is connected between the high voltage and the first terminal, having a gate connected to the second terminal. The first high-voltage NMOS is connected to the second terminal, having a gate through which a second signal is input. The first low-voltage NMOS is connected between the first high-voltage N-channel MOS and a ground, having a gate through which the second signal is input. The second high-voltage NMOS is connected to the first terminal, having a gate through which a first signal is input. The second low-voltage NMOS is connected between the second N-channel MOS and the ground, having a gate through which the first signal is input.

1. Field
The present specification describes a level shift circuit, and more particularly a level shift circuit which is capable of preventing occurrence of malfunctions when a low power voltage supply fluctuates. The present specification further describes a semiconductor integrated circuit which includes the above-mentioned level shift circuit.
2. Discussion of the Background
FIG. 1 shows a conventional level shift circuit 101 and FIG. 2 shows its exemplary operation. As shown in FIG. 1, the level shift circuit 101 includes P-channel MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) transistors (hereinafter referred to as PMOS transistors) 111 and 113 and N-channel MOS transistors (hereinafter referred to as NMOS transistors) 112 and 114. The PMOS transistors 111 and 113 and the NMOS transistors 112 and 114 are pulled up to a predetermined low power voltage Vdd1. These transistors are designed to be used with a relatively low withstand voltage. The level shift circuit 101 further includes PMOS transistors 115 and 117 and NMOS transistors 116 and 118. The PMOS transistors 115 and 117 and the NMOS transistors 116 and 118 are pulled up to a predetermined high power voltage Vdd2. These PMOS transistors 115 and 117 and the NMOS transistors 116 and 118 are designed to have a relatively high withstand voltage and therefore have a threshold voltage greater than that of the PMOS transistors 111 and 113 and the NMOS transistors 112 and 114.
As shown in the operation of FIG. 2, when a signal Si at low level is input through an input terminal IN of the level shift circuit 101, a signal S1 at high level substantially equivalent to the predetermined low power voltage Vdd1 is input through a gate of the NMOS transistor 118 and a signal S2 at low level, that is, 0 volts, is input through a gate of the NMOS transistor 116. Alternately, when the signal Si at high level is input through the input terminal IN, the signal S1 at low level, that is, 0 volts, is input through the gate of the NMOS transistor 118 and the signal S2 at high level substantially equivalent to the predetermined low power voltage Vdd1 is input through the gate of the NMOS transistor 116.
Thus, the high level signal of the predetermined low power voltage Vdd1 is input through the gates of the NMOS transistors 116 and 118 which are pulled up to the predetermined high power voltage Vdd2. The voltage of the high level signal input through the gates of the NMOS transistors 116 and 118 are greater than threshold voltages VthB and VthA of the NMOS transistors 116 and 118. As a result, the NMOS transistors 116 and 118 can be switched to an ON state without fail, and signals level-shifted from the input signal Si are output through output terminals OUT and OUTB.
However, when the level of the predetermined low power voltage Vdd1 is reduced due to an influence of electrical noise or the like, the input signals at high level input to the gates of the NMOS transistors 116 and 118 become likely lower than the threshold voltages VthB and VthA of the NMOS transistors 116 and 118, as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the NMOS transistors 116 and 118 cannot be switched to an ON state and, as a consequence, the level shift circuit 101 cannot properly perform its operation.

Level shift circuit capable of preventing occurrence of malfunction when low power supply fluctuates, and semiconductor integrated circuit including the circuit