A device to produce alternating electric current of high frequency for power consumers such as fluorescent lamps, which includes the means of supplying a DC voltage nearly twice the size of the peak voltage of the alternating voltage input--with negligible loss of power--to the remainder of the circuit and thus reducing the intrinsic power consumption of the device as well as making it possible to supply the said power consumer such as the fluorescent lamp with a higher start voltage as well as a higher voltage in operation.

Fluorescent lamps have become widely used in the past several years due to their relatively low power consumption and high light output, especially as compared with incandescent type lamps. With the general expansion in the use of fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamps have found their way into a wide variety of applications, including high and low temperature environments. Fluorescent lamps have also become the dominant lighting fixture for offices, factories and other businesses.
Solid state ballasts which drive fluorescent lamps are similar to the prior art shown in FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, which is similar to the ballast shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,862. Ballasts frequently consist of a rectifier to convert an incoming alternating current (AC) signal to a high voltage direct current (DC) signal which is then used to drive the fluorescent lamps. A full wave rectifier, as shown in FIG. 1, is fairly common, as is a half-wave rectifier (not shown). A pulsed DC voltage that is output by this AC to DC converter is applied across a fluorescent lamp in order to excite the gas contained within the fluorescent lamp, which causes the lamp to light. A feedback circuit is generally associated with the fluorescent lamp, causing the DC signal to pulse, and the voltage across the fluorescent lamp to oscillate. A starter circuit is usually provided to supply a start pulse to begin the oscillation of the DC voltage.
The voltage applied across a fluorescent lamp must be sufficient to excite the atoms and generate light. Typically, a voltage level of approximately 110-130 volts is sufficient to cause a five foot long T8 fluorescent lamp to light. When operating in a low temperature environment, however, the voltage which must be applied across the fluorescent must be higher because the low temperature of the gas, and resulting decreased entropy of the atoms requires a higher energy in order for the atoms to become excited enough to generate light. The impedance of a fluorescent lamp at a given temperature remains fixed and the higher energy can only be supplied in the form of a higher voltage across the electrodes in the fluorescent lamps.
Another problem which compounds the low temperature ignition difficulties of a fluorescent lamp is parasitic resistances which may develop between the fluorescent lamp and ballast driving the fluorescent lamp. These parasitic resistances can take the form of deterioration of the wires going to the ballast causing an increased resistance and the like. In addition, certain types of fluorescent lamp ballasts use components which are temperature sensitive. Significant changes in the operating temperature of the ballast requires the circuit to be redesigned, or retuned to accommodate the changed circumstances.
Another disadvantage of fluorescent tubes is a stroboscopic effect or flickering. Using classic ballasts in which the incoming 50 or 60 Hz AC signal is routed directly to the fluorescent lamp, the luminous arch is ignited and turned off with a frequency of double the supply frequency, i.e. 100 or 120 Hertz. This stroboscopic effect is usually not visible, but may under adverse circumstances especially at cooler temperatures cause inconvenience. Furthermore, acoustic noise is often induced, particularly by the induction coil, and the usual simple ignition device may cause slow ignition involving several attempts to ignite the lamp accompanied by an unpleasant flicker.
These problems frequently go unnoticed because the user of a fluorescent lamp and ballast will frequently change the fluorescent lamp when a problem develops. Changing the fluorescent lamp involves releasing electrical connectors which are attached to the fluorescent lamp and reconnecting the connectors to a new fluorescent lamp that has no corrosion on the connectors and has not yet suffered any degradation of the electrode elements within the lamp itself. This results in replacing fluorescent lamps much more frequently than is necessary, and in discarding fluorescent lamps which would be usable in a room temperature application or would be usable with a better ballast. This results in the production of a large amount of waste.
If replacing the fluorescent lamp with a new lamp does not solve the particular problem, the entire ballast is replaced, usually at a much greater cost than replacing the lamp. This may solve the problem temporarily or may result in successive replacement of the ballast and lamp until an optimum match is achieved between a particular ballast and lamp which produces results acceptable to the user.

Solid state ballast for fluorescent lamps


A user-wearable device comprises a device band and a housing section connected to the device band. The housing section comprises a roller and an extendable display spooled around the roller. The extendable display comprises a first end that is attached to the roller. The user-wearable device also comprises an anchor that is attached to a second end of the extendable display and that is located outside the housing section. The user-wearable device comprises a locking mechanism attached to the anchor. Separating the anchor from the housing section causes the extendable display to unspool from the roller and extend out of the housing section.

The present disclosure relates to user worn devices, and more specifically, to the displays of user-worn devices.
User-worn electronic devices sometimes include displays (e.g., LCD displays, OLED displays) to provide the user with information or allow the user to interact with the device. Some displays provide users with messages and other notifications that may be displayed in text format, graphical format, or a mixture of text format and graphical format. Some displays include touchscreen capability, allowing the user to provide inputs to the device through the display.
Smartwatches are a type of user-worn electronic device that often include a display and touchscreen capability. The typical smartwatch is worn on a user's wrist, and thus the size of the typical smartwatch display is limited; displays over a certain size may make the smartwatch impractical to use.

User-worn device with extendable display

International Business Machines Corporation


A wireless base station apparatus to establish a wireless connection with a terminal equipment detects an intensity of a signal transmitted from another terminal equipment; calculates, as transmission power for the terminal equipment, a sum of a first parameter adjusted at an interval of predetermined time and a second parameter taking a value between a predetermined first minimum value and a predetermined first maximum value; sets, as the second parameter, the larger value of a difference between first target power and the first parameter and the first minimum value when detecting that reception power of the signal transmitted from another terminal equipment is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, and further sets a difference between the first target power and the first minimum value as the first parameter and the first minimum value as the second parameter when the first parameter is adjusted.

A multiplicity of wireless base stations is installed to enable communications to be performed anywhere in a wireless communication network for mobile phone services etc. The wireless base stations are classified into: an outdoor base station installed on a roof floor of a building or at a steel tower to cover a communication area (macro cell) spreading several kilometers in radius; and a micro base station installed in a small-sized shop or a general house to cover a communication area (femto cell) spreading several tens of meters in radius.
The outdoor base station is also called a macro base station and a macro cell base station. The micro base station is also called a femto base station, a femto cell base station, femto and a femto cell.
Over the recent years, a wireless communication system such as a mobile communication network has broadly examined an improvement of a quality of indoor mobile phone services and an expansion of a service area by setting up the femto base station in an indoor space of a general home or an office.
The wireless base station in the existing mobile communication network including the femto base station transmits a common pilot signal to a mobile station. The mobile station receives this common pilot signal, thereby establishing synchronization with the wireless base station and performing channel estimation. The mobile station attains data transmission and data reception with respect to the wireless base station connected to the self-device.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of common pilot channel power and data channel power of a downlink transmission channel. Herein, in a LTE (Long Term Evolution) system based on 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) Standards, the data channel power of the downlink transmission channel is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, defined by the common pilot channel power and a power offset with respect to the common pilot channel power.
To be specific, in the LTE system, the data channel (PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel)) power of the downlink transmission channel is determined as a total value of transmission power of a Reference Signal (RS Power) corresponding to the common pilot signal and a power offset (p-a) with respect to the transmission power. Therefore, a change of the transmission power of the PDSCH is actually attained by adjusting a set value of the "RS Power" and a set value of the "p-a".
The downlink transmission channel is defined as a transmission channel in a direction from the wireless base station toward the mobile station.

Wireless base station apparatus and communication method


A filter system and filtering method includes a subtractor which receives an analog input signal and a reference voltage as a first input, and an analog feedback signal, supplied through a feedback loop, as a second input, and outputs a difference between the analog input signal and the analog feedback signal, and a low pass filter which outputs a digital signal by comparing the output signal of the subtractor and a reference voltage, then integrates duty cycle of the digital signal and calculates a following error amount, and then converts a low pass filtered signal based on the calculated following error amount to an analog signal in order to provide the analog signal to the analog feedback signal, i.e. the second input of the subtractor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filter system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a filter system that can be controlled digitally, i.e., without controlling a resistor or a capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Analog low pass filters (LPFs) and high pass filters (HPFs) may be formed using a capacitor. Thus, a capacitance value and a resistance value may be changed i, so in order to regulate a cut off frequency (fc) of such filters. Accordingly, the analog LPFs and HPFs have disadvantages in terms of varying the fc and integration.
Further, an offset may be generated due to a level integral by the capacitor. Additionally, a large driving capability may be required in order to operate the LPFs or HPFs. Accordingly, the analog LPFs and HPFs may consume a large amount of current. Moreover, it may be difficult to control a passive device, e.g., a resistor or a capacitor forming a filter, to respond to a rapidly changing input signal.
Filters using a variable resistor, a plurality of switched capacitors and/or an externally regulated capacitor have been used to improve the range of fcs available. However, all of the other attendant disadvantages noted above regarding analog filters are still present in these arrangements.
To improve integration of the filter, a capacitor may be regulated through a single pad. To aid in compensating for offset, an output signal may be converted into a digital signal, DC components removed, and then converted back into an analog signal.
However, these filters still may have the following problems.
First, an operational-amplifier offset, generated during a subtraction using a passive device, may occur in an output.
Second, chip integration is too loaded with resistors and capacitors, which are passive devices. Also, the more fcs required, complexity of an array of a switch for selecting a passive device, e.g., a resistor or and a capacitor, increases.
Third, it is difficult to apply various fcs. That is, only limited fcs can be used due to the use of passive devices.
Fourth, an appropriate response to a rapid change in an input signal may not be possible. That is, a capacitor may react even to an abnormal input signal. Accordingly, an error may occur, and an adaptive response to a rapid change in an input signal may not be executed.
Fifth, an external pad, i.e., a pin, has to be used.

Digital controlled filter system and filtering method


A substrate immersed in pure water held inside a processing bath disposed to a cleaning unit 1 and accordingly washed, as it bears an aqueous film on its surface, is transported by a substrate transportation mechanism 3 to a spin-processing unit 2. The substrate rotates in the spin-processing unit 2, thereby adjusting the thickness of the aqueous film on the substrate surface. As the aqueous film is then frozen, the volume of the aqueous film expands, adhesion between the substrates and particles adhering to the substrate surface becomes weak, or further the particles are separated from the substrate surface. The substrate transportation mechanism 3 transports thus frozen substrate to the cleaning unit 1 from the spin-processing unit 2, and the substrate is immersed in a processing liquid held inside the processing bath. The overflowing processing liquid thaws and removes the aqueous film, and particles on the substrate surface are discharged outside the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate processing method of and a substrate processing apparatus for cleaning substrates of various types such as semiconductor wafers, glass substrates for photomask, glass substrates for liquid crystal display, glass substrates for plasma display and optical disk substrates.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional solution to remove fine particulate matters (hereinafter referred to simply as "particles") adhering to surfaces of substrates, a substrate processing apparatus which supplies a processing liquid to a substrate surface and cleans the substrate surface is known. In the apparatus described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-358108 for instance, a substrate is immersed in a processing liquid to which ultrasonic vibrations are applied for a higher efficiency of cleaning the substrate. Describing in more specific details, ultrasonic vibrations vibrates particles adhering to a substrate and separates the particles off from the substrate surface, or ultrasonic vibrations make cavitations and bubbles created in the processing liquid act upon the substrate, whereby the substrate is physically cleaned.
Another approach for removal of particles adhering to a substrate is cleaning which uses a chemical solution such as SC1 (a mixture solution of aqueous ammonia and aqueous hydrogen peroxide). In the apparatus described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-340185 for instance, a substrate is immersed in a chemical solution bath filled with SC1 and a surface layer of the substrate and particles adhering to the substrate surface are etched and accordingly removed.
Meanwhile, in the apparatus described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-31673, particles adhering to a substrate are frozen together with a liquid, high-pressure pure water or cold pure water is then sprayed over the substrate and an ice film is peeled off from the substrate, whereby the substrate is cleaned.

Substrate processing method of and substrate processing apparatus for freezing and cleaning substrate


Disclosed are various embodiments for controlling a distribution of resources on a network. In one embodiment, among others, a processor is configured to transmit a request to access resources at a distribution service and receives location rules associated with the resources. The location rules specify an authorized location and an authorized perimeter area. The authorized location and the authorized perimeter area specify different access rights to the resources. The processor can determine a location of a computing device and determine that the computing device is compliant with at least one of the location rules based on the location of the computing device. The processor is configured to transmit a compliance indication to the distribution service for the location rules and receive access to at least some of the resources from the distribution service.

Controlling access to and distribution of enterprise resources, such as documents, databases, and executable applications, in a networked environment is critical to ensure that only authorized users and network-connected devices may gain access to sensitive information. Depending on the sensitivity of a given resource, an array of authorization rules may be necessary to ensure that the resource is adequately protected. Some resources may only require ensuring that the proper user is requesting the resource. Other resources may require compliance with more stringent authorization rules, such as determining whether the client device is located within an authorized location, determining whether the current time is within an authorized time window, determining whether an appropriate transport protocol is used (i.e., http and/or https) by the requesting device, determining whether the resource is accessed from a secured device, etc.
To date, enterprises have distributed resources to network-connected resources using internal secured networks and VPN tunnels to those networks. While these methods provide a secure channel for distribution, these methods typically do not authenticate the recipient beyond ensuring a proper recipient. Additionally, these methods are ineffective to continuously ensure that the resource is protected, as they fail to ensure that the resource is protected beyond the initial grant of access to the resource. This is problematic because the recipient of the resource may at some point cease to comply with the conditions required to receive access to the resource. Consequently, these methods fails to continuously ensure that only authorized client devices retain access to location-sensitive and time-sensitive resources. Finally, these methods do not restrict an authorized recipient from subsequently transmitting certain resources to other potentially unauthorized recipients.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Controlling distribution of resources on a network


A computer system includes a processor bus having processor data and processor check bits for performing error detection and correction of the processor data. A CPU is coupled to the processor bus. A memory sub-system is coupled to the processor bus and includes memory check bits, memory address bits, and memory data bits, and an error detection and correction device for detecting an error in the memory address bits using the memory check bits and for detecting an error in the memory data bits using the memory check bits. The CPU can include a processor from the Pentium.RTM. Pro family of processors. The error detection and correction device generates a syndrome table which includes a plurality of entries mapped to correctable or uncorrectable errors, in which a detected multiple-bit error in the memory data bits is mapped to an uncorrectable error entry and a detected error in the memory address bits is mapped to an uncorrectable error entry. An error detection device is also coupled to the processor bus for detecting an error in the address bits or data bits using the processor check bits.

The invention relates to error detection and correction.
Error correction codes (ECCs) have been developed that both detect and correct certain errors. One well known class of ECC algorithm is the "Hamming codes," which are widely used in digital communications data storage systems. The Hamming codes are capable of detecting multiple bit errors and correcting single bit errors. A detailed description of the Hamming codes is found in Shu Lin et al., "Error Control Coding, Fundamentals and Applications," Chapter 3 (1982). Another well known ECC algorithm is the "Reed-Solomon code" widely used for error correction in the compact disk industry. A detailed description of this ECC algorithm is found in Hoeve et al., "Error Correction and Concealment in the Compact Disk System," Philips Technical Review, Vol. 40, No. 6, pp. 166-172 (1980). The Reed-Solomon code is able to correct two errors per word. Other conventional ECC algorithms include the b-adjacent error correction code described in D. C. Bossen, "B-Adjacent Error Correction," IBM J. Res. Develop., pp. 402-408 (July 1970), and the odd weight column codes described in M. Y. Hsiao, "A Class of Optimal Minimal Odd Weight Column SEC-DED Codes," IBM J. Res. Develop., pp. 395-400 (July 1970). The Hsiao codes, like the Hamming codes, are capable of detecting double-bit errors and correcting single-bit errors. The Hsiao codes use the same number of check bits as the Hamming codes (e.g., 8 check bits for 64 bits of data), but are superior in that hardware implementation is simplified and speed of error detection is improved.
Another type of ECC algorithm, which has been used in computer memory sub-systems, is described in co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/955,923, filed Oct. 2, 1992, entitled "Error Correction System for N Bits Using Error Correction Designed for Fewer than N Bits." The ECC algorithm described in this prior application, when coupled with a particular data distribution architecture, obtains the advantages of the Hamming codes with the same overhead (8 check bits for 64 bits of data), but also is able to correct any single 4-bit wide error.
Other types of ECC algorithms are described in co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/599,757, filed Feb. 12, 1996, entitled "Error Correction Codes"; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/658,732, filed Jun. 5, 1996, entitled "Data Error Detection and Correction." The '757 application discusses using check bits to perform error detection and correction of both memory address and data signals.
Referring to FIG. 9, the Pentium.RTM. Pro processor chip set (from Intel Corporation), commonly referred to as the Orion chip set in the computer industry, contains the Pentium.RTM. Pro processor 300 connected to a processor bus 301 and a memory subsystem 310, which includes control and address block 302 and a data buffers block 306. The memory subsystem includes ECC logic in data buffers 306 for performing error detection and correction of memory data on memory data bus 303. Eight ECC bits on the memory data bus 303, which protect the memory data bus in the Orion chip set, are capable of correcting single-bit errors, detecting double-bit errors, and detecting all errors confined to one nibble on the memory data bus.
The Pentium.RTM. Pro processor bus 301 also includes eight processor ECC bits for detecting and correcting errors in the data lines of the processor bus. The Pentium.RTM. Pro processor bus 301 also includes parity protection for address/request signals and most control signals. A two-bit parity code protects the address portion of the processor bus. A first parity bit, represented as AP[0].sub.--, protects processor address bits A[23:3].sub.-- of the Pentium.RTM. Pro processor bus 301. A second address parity bit, represented as AP[1].sub.--, protects processor address bits A[31:24].sub.-- and A[35:24].sub.--. Other parity bits are used to protect control signals on the Pentium.RTM. Pro processor bus 301.


Aspects of the disclosed invention relate to alignment of standard definition (SD) maps and high definition (HD maps) which may come from different sources. Responsive to input of a destination, a route to that destination may be defined, and SD map waypoints generated from that defined route. A graph may be generated from the HD map. The waypoints may be matched with nodes and edges in the graph. One or more edges may constitute a segment in the HD map. A plurality of segments are identified to match the route.

Autonomous driving systems rely to varying extents on data from HD maps, which can provide detailed information on critical navigational issues, to enable the autonomous driving systems to function.
Among the information that HD maps may have include the following, by way of example:                Information similar to the information found in an SD map, for example, a map based on road curves, elevation changes, and/or location coordinates. There also may be local information about road-specific speed limits.        Information to define such things as lane size and location on a road; lane type, such as regular, shoulder, passing, and/or express lanes, as well as HOV lanes and/or bike lanes. There may be information about speeds within a lane; striping or solid lines; and/or line color. In one aspect, this data may be updated, for example, as a particular road has an HOV lane added, or as paint striping for lane changes, or as one or more lanes is closed temporarily for construction, among other things.        There may be true three-dimensional information, such as information about traffic signs, walls, barriers, guardrails, or various kinds of infrastructure on or at the side of a road or lane. This kind of information enables a car to locate itself precisely on a map, enabling a continual monitoring of vehicle orientation, with correction as necessary to enable the vehicle to stay in its lane, or stop correctly at intersections, or stay in a merge lane correctly, or turn and/or maneuver accurately.        There may be real-time data, and/or information such as traffic light cycles (in some cases, depending on the route, for different times of day).
The foregoing information may be provided in one or more layers to facilitate compilation or updating of particular information.
Currently in the transportation industry, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-One suppliers (who supply components directly to OEMs) may receive information from a navigation/routing Standard Definition (SD) Map service that provides a sequence of points along a chosen route. In a number of instances, this sequence may be a relatively sparse set of points, defined by junctions at which the driver may be instructed to proceed in a particular direction, depending on the route the driver is following. With information at this level, OEM or Tier One suppliers then can access more detailed information from an HD map, for example, the types of detail described above, and load into memory only the parts of the HD map relevant to the current route. This approach enables a smaller memory footprint for the map, among other things. The algorithm to enable this smaller loading is dynamic, and can work with any set of points comprising a route.
Some SD navigation map makers, who also have an HD map, may maintain a lookup table with a one-to-one relationship between their SD road segments and their HD road segments. The lookup table may be static, as changes to a given road segment most likely will affect both the SD map and the HD map. Those map makers can take that approach because they have control over both ends of their SD and HD maps. However, this approach does not enable cross reference between that map maker's SD map and someone else's HD map, nor between that map maker's HD map and someone else's SD map. Connecting all of the data from an HD map correctly to data on an SD map, would be desirable, so as to enable both kinds of cross-referencing (SD to HD, and HD to SD).

Alignment of standard-definition and High-Definition maps


A method for depositing dielectric material into gaps between wiring lines in the formation of a semiconductor device includes the deposition of three oxide layers using high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD). A first HDPCVD step is carried out while keeping the substrate unbiased to form an oxide layer over the lines and in the gap. A second HDPCVD step in which the substrate is biased deposits a second oxide layer over the first oxide layer. During the second HDPCVD step some etching occurs and a portion of the first oxide layer is removed. A third HDPCVD step is carried out at a greater etch and sputtering rate than the second step to complete filling of the gap with dielectric material. The first oxide layer acts to protect the underlying structures from etching damage during the third step. Gaps between wiring lines can be filled with dielectric material without forming voids, even for high aspect ratio gaps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition process for filling the gaps between conductive regions in a semiconductor circuit with a dielectric material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Intermetal dielectric layers are generally used to separate and electrically isolate wiring lines and other conductors in semiconductor circuit devices. Such devices may include multiple layers of wiring lines and other conductors and require isolation between adjacent conducting structures and isolation between layers. As devices are being scaled down to smaller geometries, the gaps between wiring lines generally have higher aspect ratios (ratio of height to width), which are harder to fill than small aspect ratio gaps. In addition, as the distance between wiring lines and other conductors becomes smaller, capacitive coupling between wiring lines and other conductors becomes a limitation on the speed of the integrated circuit device. For adequate device performance in reduced dimension devices, it is necessary for the dielectric provided between wiring lines to meet a number of requirements. The dielectric material should be able to completely fill the gap between conductors and should be planarizable so that successive layers can be deposited and processed. The dielectric material should also be resistant to moisture transport and have a low dielectric constant to minimize wiring capacitance between conductors and between layers.
It is thus important to deposit a high quality, substantially void-free dielectric that can fill the small, high-aspect ratio gaps between wiring lines. Dielectric layers for wiring line isolation are often formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes, which deposit material onto a surface by transporting certain gaseous precursors to the surface and causing the precursors to react at the surface. Common CVD methods include atmospheric-pressure CVD (APCVD), low-pressure CVD (LPCVD) and plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD). High quality APCVD and LPCVD oxides may be deposited at high temperatures (650-850.degree. C.), but such temperatures are generally not compatible with preferred wiring materials such as aluminum. Lower temperature APCVD and LPCVD processes tend to yield oxides that are comparatively more porous and water absorbing and that may be poorly suited to use as intermetal dielectrics. Acceptable oxides may be formed using PECVD processes, which use a plasma to impart additional energy to the reactant gases. The additional energy supplied by the plasma enables PECVD processes to be carried out at lower temperatures (approximately 400.degree. C. and less) than APCVD or LPCVD processes.
One known method for depositing dielectric material between wiring lines forms a sandwich of a layer of silane-based or TEOS-based oxide deposited by PECVD together with a layer of spin-on-glass provided in the gaps and over the wiring lines. Another method deposits only a TEOS-based dielectric layer into the gaps and over the wiring lines. Problems relating to moisture absorption, spin-on-glass outgassing and incomplete gap fill in small geometries are observed and are likely to become more problematic for further reductions in device size. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a method for filling small geometry, high aspect-ratio gaps with a dense, high quality dielectric material.

Multi-step high density plasma chemical vapor deposition process


A water sprayer includes a housing, a control valve, a valve seat, a nozzle unit, a valve shaft, and a control button. Thus, the first nozzle and the second nozzle of the nozzle unit provide two different water spraying modes so that the water is injected outwardly from the nozzle unit in two different spraying modes according to a user's requirements, thereby enhancing the versatility of the water sprayer. In addition, the water sprayer is switched between two different spraying modes by pressing of the control button, thereby facilitating the user operating the water sprayer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water sprayer and, more particularly, to a water sprayer that is mounted on the spout of a faucet, the outlet end of a water pipe or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional faucet comprises a spout to inject water outward for use with a user. However, the spout of the faucet only has a single water output manner, so that the water is injected outward from the spout of the faucet in a stronger manner with a smaller area, thereby decreasing the working efficiency and wasting the water resource.

Water sprayer having two water different spraying modes


A gas diffusion electrode is provided with antipercolation coating by bonding a free-standing film, e.g. of polysulfone or polypropylene, to a catalyzed carbon cloth utilizing a filled polysulfone/N-MP adhesive which is subjected to solvent exchange with water by either a thermal bonding as in the case of a free-standing microporous polysulfone film or mechanical bonding as in the case of a commercial microporous polypropylene film.

A gas-diffusion electrode can comprise a semihydrophobic deposit of catalyzed high surface area carbon and fluorocarbon which is thermally sintered onto or into a planar substrate which may be carbon cloth, carbon paper or a metallic mesh or expanded metal. With respect to the principles of such electrodes, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,614,575 and 5,047,133.
It is important with gas-diffusion electrodes to ensure a gas permeability of the body of the electrode which is such that electrolytes can enter the body only to a limited degree, to thereby avoid flooding of the pores of the body and any plenum, or other gas-diffusion system associated therewith.
By and large, one side of the body is supplied with gas while the other side faces the electrolyte, and it is common with such electrodes, especially when a free-flowing electrolyte is used and the electrode is immersed in the electrolyte to a considerable depth, to find it necessary to provide an antipercolation coating to prevent gas percolation losses to the electrolyte with a substantial reduction in electrochemical performance and gas economy.
In some cases, such percolation losses can be avoided by immobilizing the electrolyte by absorption into matrices or absorbent separators between electrodes.
Where the electrolyte, however, is capable of free flow, reacting gases can be prevented from migrating through the electrode by the capillary forces present where the electrolyte permeates the porous body. Where the balance between gas flow and electrolyte penetration is disrupted, the gas can percolate through the body without reacting or the electrolyte can pass through the body and flood the gas plenum or other distribution system and both the gas economy and electrochemical performance are adversely affected.
At small immersion depths, up to approximately 20 cm, the disruption by high reactant gas pressure or high electrolyte pressure is generally not a severe problem. However, as depth increases, the electrolyte tends to flood increasingly through the electrode to the gas plenum unless offset by gas pressure.
This danger can be combatted by compartmentalizing the electrode and controlling the isolated compartments so that they are of different gas pressures designed to resist penetration of the electrolyte through the porous body. This is costly and requires complicated engineering. Another method provides the gas-diffusion electrode with a microporous coating at the electrolyte side to allow fresh electrolyte wetting to carry the current, but restricts reactant gas percolation even at very high gas pressures. Such a coating allows construction of relatively low cost single compartment electrodes and allows more wide-spread use of gas-diffusion electrodes even in processes which have been able heretofore to use only solid electrodes.
There are two principal modes of use of gas-diffusion electrodes. In one mode, they are gasket-sealed into plate and frame electrolyzers which have a specific plenum for the supply of feed gas. In the second mode, they are laminated onto metal sheet substrates for use in immersed-tank electrolytic processes. In the latter case, the edges of the electrodes must be sealed to prevent gas leakage. In both cases, the antipercolation coatings are necessary where deep immersion in the electrolyte may be required.
Gas-diffusion electrodes with which the invention are primarily concerned are hydrogen-diffusion anodes, although the invention is also applicable to gas-diffusion cathodes. Hydrogen-diffusion anodes operate at electrode potentials which allow the use of a wide range of substrate and coating materials. Electrodes for oxygen reduction operate at much higher (oxidizing) potentials which can impose limitations on the materials used.
Improved immersed tank-type electrodes for application in the retrofitting of industrial electrolysis processes where the electrodes are required to operate at significant electrolyte depths have been developed. Such applications include replacing oxygen evolution as the anodic process in the electrowinning of metals such as zinc, copper and manganese. In such applications, hydrogen-diffusion electrodes must be typically immersed in an electrolyte in depths up to 6 feet and a traditional problem in such systems is that the feed gas can escape through the electrode structure into the electrolyte and/or the electrolyte will intrude through the electrode structure and flood the gas supply plenum. Experience has shown that, in many cases, only the top of the electrode, where the hydraulic pressure is the least, remains functional. Gas-diffusion electrodes of this latter type are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,133.
In practice, full-scale industrial gas-diffusion anodes, laminated and sealed with conductive epoxy to metallic sheets, have been made in accordance with the teachings of this U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,133. Here the reactant gas is exclusively supplied over large electrode surface areas without any special plenum but by distribution directly through the carbon cloth.
In this earlier system, an anode percolation layer was coated onto the cloth which was bonded with conductive epoxy to a solid metal support. After the epoxy is applied to the substrate by screening to control thickness, the carbon cloth is applied and held in place by a vacuum bagging technique allowing a constant and uniform pressure to be applied during high-temperature curing of the epoxy.
Gas flow is through the cloth and between the epoxy (which intrudes into the cloth only to a limited extent) and the catalyst layer which also penetrates only to a limited extent into the cloth.
In the past, the antipercolation layers which have been used have not been fully satisfactory. In general, prior art antipercolation coatings for carbon-cloth diffusion layers of gas-diffusion electrodes were not entirely satisfactory.
As a practical matter, an antipercolation coating must have sufficient adhesion to catalyzed carbon cloth to overcome internal pressures which might tend to separate the antipercolation coating from the cloth and must provide acceptable gas retention, i.e. be free from pin holes. It must be stable in acid and/or base and in low concentrations of oxidizing agents and have good wettability with aqueous electrolytes and good ionic conductivity. The antipercolation coating also should show dimensional stability on hydration/dehydration and should form reliable bonds with conventional adhesives for sealing of edges.
It should be mechanically tough enough to resist punctures, capable of being patched preferably when wet with water or electrolytes, and should be of comparatively low cost, say no more than $50/m.sup.2.
Prior to the present invention, no antipercolation coating known to us has been able to satisfy all of these requirements.
For example, the antipercolation coating of U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,575 is a hydrogel which is applied to the catalyzed carbon cloth as a viscous solution which may be cross-linked into an immobile gel over a period of time.
The hydrogel was not fully satisfactory because it expanded excessively on hydration/dehydration and did not allow for successful edge-sealing with or without adhesives. Furthermore, fiber bundles could penetrate from the carbon cloth through the coating, which was applied in a liquid state, and these carbon fibers were capable of carrying sufficient hydrogen to cause unacceptable leakage of hydrogen during use.
The perfluorinated sulfonic acid membrane marketed under the trade name Nafion by DuPont has been proposed as an antipercolation layer for gas-diffusion electrodes but, at a cost of $700 per m.sup.2, it is too expensive for use in many applications. Bonded asbestos has also been used in the past as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,267. Conventional adhesives do not bond well to either of these materials and thus they are unsuitable for immersed-tank applications where adhesive-bonded seals are required.

Antipercolation gas-diffusion electrode and method of making same


A liquid crystal display assembly including a liquid crystal display module, a backlight assembly and a supporting frame is provided. The liquid crystal display module has a display surface. The backlight assembly has a light guide plate. The supporting frame has a top portion and a bottom portion opposite to the top portion. The light guide plate of the backlight assembly is fixed at the top portion of the supporting frame, the liquid crystal display module is stacked up on the light guide plate and is disposed on the top portion of the supporting frame, wherein a circuit board is applicable to mount to the bottom portion of the supporting frame and electrically connects to the liquid crystal display module, and the circuit board faces a rear side of the backlight assembly opposite to the display surface. An electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal display assembly is also provided.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to a display assembly and an electronic device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display assembly and an electronic device using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Following the rapid advance of technology and semiconductor industry, digital products such as personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile phone, smart phone and notebook computer (NB) have been more and more widely used in recent years. These digital products are being developed toward convenience in use, multi-function and aesthetic appearance to provide more chooses for users. As the users have higher and higher demand on the digital products, the display which plays an important role in the digital products has become a focus for designers, in which liquid crystal displays (LCD) have become the main stream of the displays.
FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram illustrating a conventional liquid crystal display. Referring to FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 10 generally includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 12, a backlight module 14 etc., in which the LCD panel 12 includes two substrates and other components located between the two substrates such as a liquid crystal layer, an electrode layer, a color filter layer, a polarizer and an alignment layer, and the backlight module 14 includes a light source, a light guide plate, optical films and other components. Accordingly, the LCD panel 12 and the backlight module 14 are often fabricated separately, and after the fabrications being completed, the LCD panel 12 and the backlight module 14 are then assembled to be the LCD 10 through the positioning frames 16a and 16b. Therefore, the positioning frames 16a and 16b utilized in the process of manufacturing and assembling the LCD 10 may affect the thickness of the LCD 10. When the manufactured LCD 10 is applied to an electronic device (not shown), other holding frames may then utilized to assemble the LCD 10 with other components (such as a circuit board or a battery), thereby affect the thickness of the electronic device.

Liquid crystal display assembly and electronic device


A fastening device is disclosed for attachment to a pole without the need for tools and without the need for excessive force to mount or remove the device from the pole. The device has an interior channel that is open along a side of the fastening device. The opening in the channel along the side of the device is defined by first edges that are uniformly spaced apart and contiguous second edges that are angled away from each other, starting with the spacing of the first edges, until their spacing is equal to the diameter of the pole. To mount the fastening device to the pole its top edge with the widest spacing of the second edges are placed against the pole and pushed on to the pole for a short distance before rotating the bottom of the fastening device on to the pole. This attachment sequence distributes the mounting force timewise making it easier to attach or remove the fastening device to or from the pole.

Cellular telephones and other small electronic devices such as portable radios are commonly used all over the world. There is a disadvantage that such cellular telephones and other electronic devices are small and too often become misplaced, sat on, or knocked onto the ground or into the water, especially when the telephone or other device is located on a patio, poolside or on a boat and is not carried in a holster or other carrier attached to a person' attire. This is too often the case when people are wearing bathing suits and are outdoors on a patio, poolside or on a boat. There is no way to attach a holster or carrier to a person dressed in such attire. The cellular telephones or other devices can only be placed on tables, chairs, lounges, shelves or other places where they can be sat on, covered, or knocked off where they have been placed.
Conventional holsters available for use in carrying such cellular telephones are designed for carrying the telephones on a person, such as on their belt. Other holders available for use with cellular telephones are typically attached to a dashboard of a vehicle, a sort of cradle, and the telephone is positioned in the cradle. Most of these cradles are part of a hands-free system for using the cellular telephones in vehicles. These existing holsters or cradles does not work in locations and situations such as described in the previous paragraph.
On a boat drinks in a glass, bottle, can or other container can, when available, be placed in shallow recesses or wells (cup or glass holders) molded into plastic pieces of the boat. However, too often, such a cup or glass holders are not available or not located in a position that is convenient for a user and they then place these items on various flat surfaces from which they are too easily knocked over, or slide when the boat is in motion. In addition, even when a glass, bottle or can is positioned in such a cup or glass holder, if the container is full and the boat pitches off vertical in a swell from another boat or due to rough water, the contents therein spills because the container does not remain in a vertical position.
Thus, there is a need in the art for apparatus that safely mounts and secures small devices, particularly small electronic devices such as cellular telephones, in a secure manner exactly where they are needed and prevents them from getting lost, from being sat on, knocked to the ground or into water, in environments such as on a patio, at a poolside or on a boat, while at the same time making the devices easily detachable for immediate use. There is also a need in the art for apparatus that can hold a variety of containers on a boat in a manner that these items will not fall or be lost overboard.


A receiving antenna includes a parabolic reflector and a feed horn. The feed horn includes an electrically conductive wall with an edge forming an aperture. The feed horn further includes a plurality of electrical conductors that extend from the edge to the center of the feed horn in a substantially coplanar relationship with the aperture. Each of the electrical conductors differentially affect a first polarized electrical field perpendicular to the edge adjacent the electrical conductor and a second polarized electrical field parallel to the edge adjacent the electrical conductor. In this manner, the electrical conductors can be configured to reduce the effective aperture of the feed horn in a plane, so that a first polarized horn radiation pattern produced by the feed horn can be circularized. The electrical conductors with respect to a vertical plane preferably match the electrical conductors with respect to a horizontal plane, so that first and second polarized horn radiation patterns produced by the feed horn can be simultaneously circularized. Another receiving antenna includes a splash plate and a feed horn that respectively include opposing edges that form an annular aperture. The feed horn further includes a plurality of electrical conductors that extend from the feed horn edge towards the splash plate edge in a coplanar relationship with the aperture. Again, the electrical conductors can be configured to reduce the effective width of the annular aperture in a plane, so that a first polarized horn radiation pattern produced by the feed horn can be circularized, while at the same time a second polarized horn radiation pattern produced by the feed horn can be circularized.

A typical known receiving antenna includes a parabolic reflector and a corresponding feed horn to guide energy received from a transmitting antenna into a circular waveguide. The energy propagates through the waveguide to an orthomode transducer, which simultaneously extracts horizontally and vertically polarized energy. Such antennas are used in many microwave communications applications, including ground relays and geosynchronous communications satellites, which simultaneously transmit both vertically polarized linear signals and horizontally polarized linear signals on the same frequency allocation. In such applications, it is advantageous to use a receiving antenna that can simultaneously receive both of the respective polarizations, thereby reducing cost complexity and minimizing the space required at the facility at which the receiving antenna is installed.
Referring to FIG. 1, a known Newtonian feed antenna system 20 is configured to receive respective horizontally and vertically polarized signals 22 and 24 from a geosynchronous communications satellite transmitter (not shown) along an axis 26 of the antenna 20. The antenna system 20 generally includes a true parabolic reflector 28 and a feed assembly 30. The reflector 28 includes a parabolic arc, which causes the respective signals 22 and 24 to reflect from the surface of the reflector 28 towards a focal point 32, as best depicted in FIG. 2. The feed assembly 30 includes a circular feed horn 34, circular waveguide 36 and orthomode transducer (not shown). The feed assembly 30 is supported by a feed assembly support 38, such that the feed horn 34 is supported at the focal point 32. Thus, the respective signals 22 and 24 that are directed towards the focal point 32 from the reflector 28 are conveyed down the feed horn 34 to the waveguide 36, where they are extracted by the orthomode transducer for processing by further receiving circuitry (not shown). In this manner, a single feed antenna is provided with dual-polarization capability.
The dual polarization capability of the antenna 20, however, presents a problem in that the E-field of a linearly polarized energy distribution across the aperture of a typical feed horn is different in respective vertical and horizontal planes. FIG. 4 shows a vertically polarized E-field 40 at an aperture 42 defined by a rim 44 of the circular feed horn 34. For ease of illustration, the aperture 42 is depicted as having respective orthogonal X-, Y- and Z- axes, with the X- and Y- axes being coplanar with the aperture 42 and the Z-axis being perpendicular to and passing through the center of the aperture 42. As shown in FIG. 4A, the magnitude of the E-field 40 is fairly uniform along the X-axis (vertical plane) and terminates at full strength at the rim 44. As shown in FIG. 4B, the magnitude of the E-field 40 along the Y-axis (horizontal plane) is maximum at the Z-axis and terminates to zero at the rim 44.
As depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the differing E-field 40 across the aperture 42 produces a horn radiation gain pattern 48 having a beam width (.theta.X) as measured in the vertical plane and a beam width (.theta.Y) as measured in the horizontal plane, which are respectively different. In the vertical plane, where the E-field 40 across the aperture is larger (from rim to rim), the resulting beam width (.theta.X) of the horn radiation gain pattern 48 is narrower. In the horizontal plane, where the E-field 40 across the aperture 42 is smaller (zero at each rim), the resulting beam width (.theta.X) of the horn radiation gain pattern 48 is broader.
Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the horn radiation gain pattern 48 produced by the feed horn 60 is directed towards the surface of the reflector 28 and appears on the reflector 28 in the form of a gain contour 50 (depicted in FIG. 6). The gain contour 50 represents an ideal level of equal gain, typically 1/100th of the peak gain, i.e., -20 dB from the peak gain. The gain contour 50 is optimally coextensive with a rim 52 of the reflector 28, such that the gain measured from the Z-axis to the rim 52 of the reflector 28 decreases gradually enough that the reflector 28 is fully utilized, while still increasing quickly enough that a substantial amount of energy is not radiated outside the reflector rim 52 and lost behind the reflector 28.
As depicted in FIG. 6, however, the gain contour 50 is not coextensive with the reflector rim 12. Rather, the gain contour 50 is elliptical in shape, the gain along the X-axis axis (vertical plane) to decrease too quickly, thereby "underfeeding" the reflector 28 along the X-axis. This mismatch also causes the gain along the Y-axis (horizontal plane) to decrease too gradually, thereby "overfeeding" the reflector 28 along the Y-axis. Because the reflector 28 is "underfed" along the vertical plane, a resulting reflector radiation gain pattern 54 along the vertical plane has a beam width (.phi.X) that is too broad (as depicted in FIG. 7), producing a less than ideal antenna gain. Because the reflector 28 is "overfed" along the horizontal plane, the resulting reflector radiation gain pattern 54 along the horizontal plane has a beam width (.phi.X) that is relatively narrow (as depicted in FIG. 7), but a substantial amount of energy is lost behind the reflector 74, producing a less than ideal antenna gain.
Typically, the feed aperture 42 is sized to adjust the respective breadths of the horn radiation gain pattern 48 as measured in the respective vertical and horizontal planes, i.e., the size of the feed aperture 42 is increased or decreased to respectively narrow or broaden the horn radiation gain pattern 48 in both the vertical and horizontal planes. Because the feed aperture 42 is circular, however, the breadth of the horn radiation gain pattern cannot be adjusted independently for the respective vertical and horizontal planes. Instead, the ideal breadth of the horn radiation pattern in the respective planes and, thus, the ideal gain in the respective planes, must be compromised. Such a problem occurs not only in antenna assemblies such as the antenna system 10, but in any antenna system that employs a circular feed horn to receive a linearly polarized signal.
FIG. 8 depicts a rectangular feed horn 60, which addresses this problem. A vertically polarized E-field 66 is shown at an aperture 62 defined by a rectangular rim 64 of the feed horn 60. For ease of illustration, the aperture 62 is depicted as having respective orthogonal X-, Y- and Z- axes, with the E-field 66 generally polarized parallel and perpendicular to the X- and Y-axes, respectively. The X- and Y-axes are generally coplanar with the aperture 62 and the Z-axis is generally perpendicular to and passes through the center of the aperture 62. As with the circular feed horn 60, the magnitude of the E-field 66 is fairly uniform along the X-axis (vertical plane) and terminates at full strength at the rim 64 (depicted in FIG. 8A), and the magnitude of the E-field along the Y-axis (horizontal plane) is maximum at the Z-axis and terminates to zero at the rim 64 (depicted in FIG. 8B).
Unlike the circular feed horn 60, however, the dimensions of the rectangular feed horn 60 can be adjusted to independently vary the breadth of the horn radiation gain pattern in the respective vertical and horizontal planes. That is, the feed horn 60 has dimensions (a) and (b) in the respective vertical and horizontal planes, which can be independently varied to adjust the horn radiation gain pattern in the respective vertical and horizontal planes. Although the E-field 66 along the horizontal plane terminates to zero at the rim 64, thereby generally creating a broad antenna radiation gain pattern along the horizontal plane, dimension (b) can be made greater than dimension (a) to narrow the antenna radiation gain pattern along the horizontal plane to more closely match the breadth of the antenna radiation gain pattern along the vertical plane. This results in a generally circularized antenna radiation gain pattern that can be more closely matched with a circular reflector.
Adjusting the respective dimensions (a) and (b) of the feed horn 60 to optimize a vertically polarized horn radiation gain pattern will have the opposite effect on a horizontally polarized horn radiation gain pattern, i.e., the horizontally polarized horn radiation gain pattern will become more elliptical. Therefore, adjusting the respective dimensions of a rectangular feed horn will not simultaneously optimize respective vertically and horizontally polarized horn radiation patterns. Thus, a rectangular feed horn is not a solution in a dual polarization application.
This dual polarization problem not only occurs in Newtonian feed antennas, but occurs in other designs as well. Referring to FIG. 9, a known antenna system 80, configured to receive respective first and second polarized signals 82 and 84, includes a ring focus parabolic main reflector 86 and a feed assembly 88. The main reflector 86 includes a parabolic arc that originates from a ring 90 offset from a longitudinal axis 92, which causes the respective signals 82 and 84 to reflect from the surface of the reflector 86 towards a focal ring 94, as best depicted in FIG. 3. The feed assembly 88 includes a circular secondary reflector or "splash plate" 96, a circular feed horn 98, a circular waveguide 100 and an orthomode transducer (not shown). The splash plate 96 is disposed above the focal ring 94, such that the respective signals 82 and 84 reflect off of the splash plate 96, down the feed horn 98 and into the circular waveguide 100, where they are extracted by the orthomode transducer for processing by further receiving circuitry (not shown).
As with the antenna 20, the antenna system 80 presents a problem in that the E-field of a linearly polarized energy distribution across the annular aperture between the feed horn and splash plate in a typical feed assembly is different in respective vertical and horizontal planes. FIG. 10 shows a vertically polarized E-field 102 at an aperture 106 defined by the rim of the circular feed horn 98. For ease of illustration, the annular aperture 104 is depicted as having an axis of revolution around which the angles 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. are labeled. The E-field 102 is generally polarized along the respective 0.degree. and 180.degree. locations. As shown in FIG. 10A, the E-field 102 at the 90.degree. and 270.degree. locations peaks along the boundary of the annular aperture 104 and terminates to zero at the feed horn rim 106 and splash plate rim 108. As shown in FIG. 10B, the magnitude of the E-field 102 at the 0.degree. and 180.degree. locations is fairly uniform along the boundary of the annular aperture 104 and terminates at full strength at the feed horn rim 106 and splash plate rim 108.
Like the feed assembly 30 of the antenna 20, the feed assembly 88 produces a horn radiation gain pattern with different beam widths in orthogonal planes, resulting in an elliptical gain contour on the main reflector 86 and an inefficient reflector radiation gain pattern.
This problem becomes more significant when designing antennas in which the reflector energy distribution is critical, such as, e.g., multiple reflector noise cancellation antennas, the features of which are described in Lusignan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,084, and copending application Ser. No. 08/259,980, filed Jun. 17, 1994, both of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
Another problem that occurs in the previously described antennas is the occurrence of unintended modes generated at sudden transitions in structures, such as, e.g., a splash plate, feed horn or waveguide. These transitions create unwanted modes that may couple energy from one polarization to another (cross-coupling) or impedance mismatch that may channel energy back out the feed (reflections) instead of guiding energy out through the orthomode transducer. If the length of the waveguide and the distance between the splash plate and the feed horn are relatively great, the deleterious results of the unintended modes will be small. For mechanical reasons, however, the antenna may be less expensive and more acceptable in its application if the feed horn is short. A shorter feed horn, however, can allow unintended modes to couple between sections of the feed and lead to loss and cross-coupling.

Antenna feed having electrical conductors differentially affecting aperture electrical field


A material for treatment of cerebral infarction ameliorates angiopathy at a cerebral infarction region and improves brain function. The material for treatment of cerebral infarction according to the present invention comprises a dental pulp stem cell including at least one of a CD105-positive cell, an SP cell, a CD24-positive cell, a CD271-positive cell, and a CD150-positive cell. The material for treatment of cerebral infarction according to the present invention may contain a secretory protein of the dental pulp stem cell. Transplanted dental pulp stem cells do not directly differentiate into neural progenitor cells or neural cells and indirectly participate in the promotion of differentiation to restore and cure a cerebral infarction region such that the region becomes normal.

The present invention relates to a material for treatment of cerebral infarction and to a brain tissue regeneration method using the material for treatment of cerebral infarction.
Cerebral angiopathy is the second leading cause of death in Japan and is responsible for the greatest cause of being bed-ridden, while not causing death. Therefore, the aging society is in urgent need of development of therapy appropriate for cerebral angiopathy.
Among cerebral angiopathies, ischemic cerebrovascular disease such as cerebral infarction or cerebral thrombosis occurs with the highest frequency. Mortality due to cerebral infarction is greater than the total mortality due to myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease.
If the cause of paralysis is cerebral infarction, current treatment is thought to be effective within 3 hours after development, at present.
In addition, rtPa (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) intravenous drip treatment can be expected to have recanalization effect and offers functional recovery of up to approximately 30% of damaged brain function.
However, the rtPa intravenous drip treatment has the disadvantage that it is used in only approximately 2% of cases due to adverse reactions of intracerebral hemorrhage.
Moreover, thrombolytic therapy using catheters has been approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. However, under the present circumstances, no drug used in this therapy is covered by national health insurance.
In the adult brain, the region where new neurons are produced is thought to be located in the lateral subventricular zone and in the granular cell layers of the hippocampal dentate gyrus.
In addition, new neurons formed after cerebral infarction are derived from the lateral subventricular zone. These neurons migrate to the parenchyma of the corpus striatum to form chain-like cell aggregates, which in turn differentiate into nerves of the corpus striatum and form synapses.
Moreover, blood vessels are thought to participate in the control of neural progenitor cell differentiation and influence induced nerve regeneration in the corpus striatum.
The development of therapy based on regenerative medicine has been pursued for cerebral infarction, and preclinical experiments using rat or mouse models of cerebral infarction have been practiced.
Stem cells derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, adipose, or umbilical cord blood, or the like are used as transplanted cells. Embryonic neural stem cells or ES cells, or the like are also used. These cells are injected into the brain or veins.
As a result, these cells may directly differentiate into nerves, thereby decreasing cerebral infarction regions, restoring brain function, or may promote angiogenesis in peri-infarct areas.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-130026 discloses a method for efficiently inducing in vitro or in vivo the growth of neural stem cells that are important for, for example, the treatment of nerve injury sites caused by cerebral infarction.
In addition, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-014780 discloses pharmaceuticals for cerebral infarction regions comprising mesenchymal stem cells and IGF-1 in combination.
However, these techniques have a difficulty in offering efficient functional recovery in cerebral infarction regions. Thus, an effective approach for ameliorating angiopathy at a cerebral infarction region and improving brain function has been demanded.

National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology


An electrostatic motor provided with a stationary member including a first major surface and a first back surface opposite to the first major surface; and a movable member including a second major surface and a second back surface opposite to the second major surface, the movable member being arranged to be movable relative to the stationary member in a condition where the second major surface is opposed to the first major surface of the stationary member. The electrostatic motor includes a protuberance provided to project from at least one of the first major surface of the stationary member and the second major surface of the movable member, for ensuring a predetermined clearance between the first major surface and the second major surface. The electrostatic motor may include a plurality of stationary members and a plurality of movable members, assembled with each other in a manner as to alternately arrange the stationary members and the movable members. In this arrangement, the electrostatic motor may further include a back-side protuberance provided to project from at least one of the first back surface of each of the stationary members and the second back surface of each of the movable members, for ensuring a predetermined clearance between the first back surface and the second back surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatic motor which generates a driving force from an electrostatic force.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been developed an electrostatic motor in which each of a stationary member (or a stator) and a movable member is constituted by arranging a plurality of electrodes on a film-like insulating substrate, and a multi-phase AC voltage is applied to the respective sets of electrodes of the stationary member and the movable member so as to move the movable member relative to the stationary member. As compared to an electric motor using an electromagnetic force, this type of the electrostatic motor does not require a large mass component, such as a magnetic coil or a permanent magnet, and thus can be easily fabricated in a small size, which permits it to be utilized as, e.g., a drive source for a micro-machine.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-78566 (JP6-78566A) discloses an electrostatic motor provided with a stationary member including an insulating substrate and a plurality of electrodes arranged along a major surface of the insulating substrate at predetermined intervals, and a movable member including another insulating substrate and a plurality of electrodes arranged on a major surface of the insulating substrate at predetermined intervals. In this electrostatic motor, the stationary member and the movable member are assembled together relatively movably in a direction along the major surfaces thereof, with the respective plural electrodes (usually, strip-shaped or line-shaped electrodes) being regularly opposed to each other. In this state, a three-phase AC voltage is applied to, e.g., every three parallel electrodes in the respective sets of electrodes of the stationary member and the movable member, to generate an electrostatic force between the two sets of electrodes due to traveling-wave electric fields having different phases, so that a driving force is generated in the movable member so as to act in a direction of the parallel arrangement of the electrodes (or in the direction along the major surface).
JP6-78566A also discloses a laminated configuration constructed by alternately stacking plural stationary members and plural movable members, so as to provide plural sets of stationary members and movable members, each set having opposing electrodes, for the purpose of increasing the output power of a single motor. JP6-78566A further discloses a linear electrostatic motor in which the movable member linearly moves relative to the stationary member, and a rotary electrostatic motor in which the movable member rotates about an axis relative to the stationary member.
In the electrostatic motor of the above-described type, the stationary member and the movable member, both formed as film-like members, have a small rigidity and thus are difficult to maintain their own shapes and to keep a clearance therebetween a predetermined dimension In this context, the solution has been proposed, in which a clearance is maintained by a large number of fine grains, such as glass beads, distributed between the stationary member and the movable member, as disclosed in, e.g., Akio Yamamoto, Toshiki Niino, Toshiro Higuchi, "High-Precision Positioning Control using High-Power Electrostatic Linear Drive", Journal of the Japanese Society for Precision Engineering (JSPE), Vol. 64, No. 9, 1998, pp. 1385 to 1389.
In the above constitution wherein the clearance between the film-like stationary and movable members is controlled by fine grains, the fine grains, such as glass beads, distributed between the opposing surfaces of the stationary and movable members are interposed therebetween basically in a free state. Therefore, when the movable member moves relative to the stationary member during an operation of the electrostatic motor, the fine grains (or glass beads) tend to move accompanying thereto, which may cause the unbalanced distribution of the fine grains between the opposing surfaces. If the fine grains (or glass beads) are distributed in an unbalanced manner between the stationary member and the movable member, the clearance between the stationary and movable members may lose uniformity, and thereby the characteristics of the electrostatic motor may be varied.

Electrostatic motor with clearance maintaining structure