A testing device for testing a printed circuit board includes a testing signal converting module for receiving testing signals from the printed circuit board and outputting the testing signals and a plurality of I/O control signals to a plurality of testing circuits. The testing signals include a BIOS signal, an audio signal and a floppy signal. A BIOS testing and upgrading circuit test the BIOS signal from the printed circuit board according to a first control signal and updating the BIOS according to a sixth control signal. An audio testing circuit for testing audio quality includes a line out/line in circuit for an output/input test, a hp-mic circuit for a headphone and microphone test and a speaker-cd-in circuit for a speaker/cd test. A floppy switching circuit tests a read/write function and a write-protect function of a floppy signal according to a fifth I/O control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a testing device for printed circuit board, and more particularly to a testing device for testing overall functions of printed circuit board.
2. Background of the Invention
After assembling a printed circuit board into an electronic device, an overall test is required to check the functions of the printed circuit board. The test mainly aims at the defects such as open circuit, short circuit as well as the incorrect connection between the chips. After these detections, the error signals from the testing device are analyzed to find out where the error points are on the circuit board.
In a conventional arrangement, an untested printed circuit board is connected to a testing board with a plurality of terminals by manual work. The testing signals are inputted to different testing device for testing different chips and slots respectively. However, there are so many elements on the printed circuit board, it is time-consuming to connect the chips and slots with the terminals one by one, and it is labor-consuming and prone to misoperation.
Something has been done to improve the testing module. For example, a testing device for CPU comprises a transfer board and a plurality of probes. The transfer board is coupled to a CPU of the printed circuit board and enlarges a clock circuit of the CPU with a clock enlarged circuit. The probes are arranged in the transfer board and electronically connect with the transfer board as well as the footprint of the printed circuit board. However the testing device for CPU detection is only capable of the CPU testing, while the tests on the audio, the battery are ignored or have to be tested with other testing device.
Accordingly, what is needed is a testing device for testing overall functions of printed circuit board.

Testing device for printed circuit board

Bao-an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.


A cabinet cord eject structure includes a cord eject port penetrated in a rear part of a rear cabinet molded of a flame retardant synthetic resin, and a movable lid for closing the cord eject port integrally formed via a thin hinge portion on the rear cabinet. The movable lid is rotated open around the thin hinge portion, a chassis is inserted into the rear cabinet, an AC cord is pulled out through the cord eject port, the chassis is placed on a bottom plate portion of the rear cabinet, and the movable lid is rotated closed around the thin hinge portion to close the cord eject port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cabinet cord eject structure for a magnetic tape device integrated television receiver or a stand-alone television receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 11 and 12 show an example of a magnetic tape device integrated television receiver (so-called "televideo"). In this example, a cathode ray tube 2 is disposed at the upper part of a cabinet 1 composed of a front cabinet 1A and a rear cabinet 1B, and a magnetic tape device 3 and a chassis 5 with an AC cord 4 are disposed at the lower part of the cabinet 1. The cabinet 1 is molded of flame retardant synthetic resin to with stand high voltages, and the chassis 5 is molded of in expensive flammable synthetic resin, with a cord eject port 6 penetrated in a rear part of the rear cabinet 1B.
An assembling procedure involves inserting the chassis 5 into the rear cabinet 1B in a state where the AC cord 4 is bound by a binder 7 to easily handle the AC cord 4 as shown in FIG. 13A, and pulling out the AC cord 4 through the cord eject port 6 and disposing the chassis 5 on a bottom plate portion 1a of the rear cabinet 1B as shown in FIG. 13B.
The above constitution has some problem in respect of accident prevention, because the chassis 5 made of flammable synthetic resin is exposed to the outside through the cord eject port 6. Thereby, it is required to close the cord eject port 6 with flame retardant material in accordance with the UL standards.
Conventionally, to solve the above-mentioned problem, a metallic plate 8 made of a flame retardant material that is opposed to the cord eject port 6 is fixed by a screw 9 to the chassis 5 to close the cord eject port 6, as described in JP-A-5-18068.
In the above constitution, the metallic plate 8 is fixed by the screw 9 to the chassis 5 to close the cord eject port 6. However, this fixing operation is troublesome and requires a lot of time, and because of the use of the metallic plate 8, the number of parts is increased. These increase the manufacturing costs.


Systems and methods for operating a customer premise equipment (CPE) device with agile software stack integrated with OpenSync™ layer for command, control, and telemetry via the operator's cloud network. It includes the configuration of the CPE device to receive traffic from an access network in a first system on chip (SoC) of the CPE device, and to provide 5G edge computing services to a 5G NR user equipment (UE) device via a second SoC of the CPE device. The CPE device may also be configured to receive 5G New Radio (NR) mobile traffic, receive in-home Wi-Fi traffic, and use at least one service flow (or only one service flow) to support both the 5G NR mobile traffic and the in-home Wi-Fi traffic.

Many subscribers connect to the Internet via a customer premise equipment (CPE), which may include a residential gateway (RG) and modem that together provide network connectivity to a home or small office network. Traditionally, CPE devices have been inexpensive networking devices designed to provide connectivity to a small number of UE devices in a home or small office. However, more recently, it has become common for a single subscriber to employ multiple personal devices simultaneously (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a smart watch, a gaming system, a smart TV, etc.). In addition, many homes and small business now include a plurality of smart and Internet of Things (IoT) devices that require network connectivity and employ machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. Each of these additional devices exchange information with other systems and devices without human interaction. Examples of such IoT, smart IoT, and smart devices (herein collectively "smart-devices") include, but are not limited to, medical devices such as blood pressure monitor IoT, security cameras, gaming consoles, clocks, speakers, lights, door bells, cameras, thermostats, HVAC systems, personal hubs (e.g., Amazon Alexa/Echo®) and other similar "smart home" devices.
Due to the increasing number of smart-devices that require network connectivity, as well as other factors such as the vulnerability of these devices to malicious hacking, the rapid development new types of malware and cyber-attacks, as well as the private or sensitive nature of the data that is now being collected and communicated by the devices, etc., network service providers are increasingly implementing services and security solutions on more robust CPE devices. Consequently, more powerful Access CPE devices are emerging. These robust CPE devices may include an integrated voice gateway, powerful processors, packet offload engines, system-on-chips (SoCs), memories, antennas, power amplifiers, as well as other resources (e.g., power rails, etc.) that better support high-speed wireless communications and execute complex and power intensive applications.
Although these new and emerging Access CPE devices incredibly powerful, they are predominately used as a bridge for high-speed data to a downstream wireless router connected via LAN. As a result, many features of these powerful Access CPE devices remain underutilized.
5G new radio (NR) and other recently developed communication technologies allow wireless devices to communicate information at data rates (e.g., in terms of Gigabits per second, etc.) that are orders of magnitude greater than what was previously available. These communication networks are also more secure, more resilient to multipath fading, allow for lower network traffic latencies, and provide better communication efficiencies (e.g., in terms of bits per second per unit of bandwidth used, etc.). Improved solutions that leverage underutilized Access CPE gateway resources to provide new services, such as 5G edge computing services, in addition to the current Access CPE applications will be beneficial to consumers and internet service providers.

System and method for leveraging access customer premise equipment (CPE) gateway resources to provide 5G edge computing services


A lateral, high-voltage, FET having a low on-resistance and a buried conduction layer comprises a P-type buried layer region within an N-well formed in a P-type substrate. The P-type buried layer region is connected to a drain electrode by a first P-type drain diffusion region that is disposed in the N-well region. The P-type buried layer region is also connected to a second P-type drain diffusion region that extends down from the surface at one end of the PMOS gate region. A P-type source diffusion region, which connects to the source electrode, defines the other end of the gate region.

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to high voltage field-effect transistor structures fabricated in silicon substrates.
Lateral, high-voltage, field-effect transistors (HVFETs) have been fabricated using an insulated gate field-effect transistor (IGFET) placed in series with a high-voltage junction field-effect transistor (JFET). The IGFET is used to control the xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d state current in the device and the JFET is used to support high-voltage in the xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d state. This HVFET structure can be switched at high voltages, has a low on-state resistance, and has insulated-gate control. In addition, it may advantageously be fabricated near low voltage logic transistors on a single integrated circuit chip.
Lateral HVFETs are commonly fabricated in accordance with the Reduced Surface Field (RESURF) principle. The RESURF principle, however, mandates that the charge in the extended drain region, which serves as the channel of a lateral JFET, be carefully controlled to obtain high breakdown voltage. To keep the maximum electric field below the critical field at which avalanche breakdown occurs the amount of charge in the JFET channel is typically limited to a maximum of about 1xc3x971012 cmxe2x88x922. When the HVFET is in the xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d state, the resistance of the JFET channel constitutes a large portion of the on-state resistance of the HVFET. Therefore, the limitation on the maximum charge in the JFET channel also sets the minimum specific on-resistance of the device.
A HVFET having an extended drain region with a top layer of a conductivity type opposite that of the extended drain region is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,075. The ""075 patent teaches that the top layer nearly doubles the charge in the conducting layer, with a commensurate reduction in device on-resistance. This top layer also helps to deplete the JFET conduction region when the extended drain is supporting a high voltage.
Further extending this concept, U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,901 teaches utilizing the opposite conductivity type top layer as the conducting portion of the JFET in a complementary high-voltage transistor. One drawback, however, is that construction of this complementary device requires additional processing steps to achieve high-voltage capability. Additionally, the on-resistance of the complementary device is limited by the charge requirement for the top region (e.g., about 1xc3x971012 cmxe2x88x922). Another difficulty Is that the top layer is often formed prior to oxidation of the silicon surface, which introduces additional process variation.
To further increase the total charge in the conducting region of the JFET and reduce on-resistance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,082 teaches a HVFET structure In which two JFET channels are arranged in parallel. A triple diffusion process is disclosed, in which three separate implant and diffusion steps are required to form a HVFET having an N-type conducting top layer, a P-type middle layer, and an N-type conducting bottom layer. The multiple layers of alternating conductivity types are fabricated by implanting, and then diffusing, dopants into the semiconductor substrate. The ""082 patent also describes a complementary high-voltage transistor (i.e., a P-channel device) that is formed by adding an additional layer to the three-layer extended drift region.
One shortcoming of this prior art approach is that each successive layer is required to have a surface concentration that is higher than the preceding layer, in order to fully compensate and change the conductivity type of the corresponding region. Diffusion of dopants from the surface makes it very difficult to maintain adequate charge balance among the layers. In addition, the heavily doped P-N junction between the buried layer and drain diffusion region degrades the breakdown voltage of the device. The concentrations also tend to degrade the mobility of free carriers in each layer, thereby compromising the on-resistance of the HVFET. The additional layer required for making the complementary device also complicates the manufacturing process.
A p-channel MOS device design that is compatible with a generic process for manufacturing complementary CMOS devices is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,154.

High-voltage transistor with buried conduction layer


Methods and apparatus for selectively depositing a layer of material from a gas phase to produce a part comprising a plurality of deposited layers. The apparatus includes a computer controlling a directed energy beam, such as a laser, to direct the laser energy into an unheated chamber substantially containing the gas phase to preferably produce photodecomposition or thermal decomposition of the gas phase and selectively deposit material within the boundaries of the desired cross-sectional regions of the part. At least one component of the gas phase is a vapor which condenses at a temperature above the ambient temperature of the chamber. Each such component can exist at a partial pressure no higher than its equilibrium vapor pressure at the chamber ambient temperature. For each cross section, the aim of the laser beam is scanned over a target area and the beam is switched on to deposit material within the boundaries of the cross-section. Each subsequent layer is joined to the immediately preceding layer to produce a part comprising a plurality of joined layers. A catalytic environment can be created proximate or upon the target area to ensure that initial nucleation and renucleation layers are receptive to substantially rapid and uniform growth of decomposed gas phase material at the target location. The catalyst can be placed on the initial substrate layer and/or upon successive layers as the layers are being deposited on the outer surface of the evolving part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus using a directed energy beam to selectively deposit material from a gas phase to produce a part.
2. Conventional Part Production
The economies associated with conventional part production methods are related to the quantity of parts to be produced and the desired material characteristics of the finished parts. For example, large scale manufacture casting and extrusion techniques are often cost effective on extended production runs, but these production methods are generally unacceptable for small quantities, i.e., replacement parts or prototype production. A principal reason is the expensive part-specific tooling required by many such conventional part production methods. Even standard powder processing requires a die for shaping the powder, making powder processing unattractive as a method for producing a small number of parts.
Where only a small number of parts are desired, conventional production methods involving a subtractive machining method are usually used to produce the desired part. In such subtractive methods, material is cut away from the starting block of material to produce a more complex shape. Examples of subtractive machine tool methods include: milling, drilling, grinding, lathe cutting, flame cutting, electric discharge machining, etc. While such conventional machine tool subtractive methods are usually effective in producing the desired part, they are deficient in many respects.
First, such methods produce a large amount of waste material for disposal. Second, such machine tool methods usually involve a large initial expense for setting up the proper machining protocol and tools, a process which is not only expensive, but relies a great deal on human judgment and expertise. The cost-per-part increases, of course, when only a small number of parts are to be produced.
Another difficulty associated with such conventional machining techniques involves tool wear, which not only involves the cost of replacement, but also reduces machining accuracy as the tool wears. The accuracy of any part produced by conventional machining techniques is related to the tolerance limits inherent in the particular machine tool used. For example, in a conventional milling machine or lathe, the lead screws and ways are manufactured to certain tolerances, which initially limit the accuracy obtainable in manufacturing a part on the machine tool; tool wear effectively widens tolerances and thus further limits accuracy.
A further problem associated with conventional machine tool subtractive processes is the difficulty or even impossibility of making many part configurations. For example, conventional machining methods are usually best suited for producing symmetrical parts and parts where only the exterior surface is machined. Where a desired part is irregular in shape or has internal features, the machining becomes more difficult; quite often, the part must be divided into segments for production. In some cases, a particular part configuration cannot be made by conventional subtractive machining processes because of limitations imposed on machine tool placement.
Additive machining processes such as plating, cladding, and some welding processes, wherein material is added to a starting substrate, may supplement or replace subtractive machining in some applications. Recently developed additive-type machining methods use a laser beam to coat or deposit material on a starting article. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,117,302; 4,474,861; 4,300,474; and 4,323,756. These recent uses of lasers have been primarily limited to adding a coating to a previously machined article. Often, such laser coating methods have been employed to achieve certain metallurgical properties unobtainable by any other methods. Typically, laser coating involves rotating the starting article while the laser is directed at a fixed location, the coating material being spray-coated onto the article so that the laser will then melt the coating onto the article.
Laser sintering of a powder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,538, and a process for compressing a powder-based material into a coherent mass prior to sintering is suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,352. Previously suggested selective sintering methods, however, are associated with the problem of evenly depositing the layers of powder for sintering.

Method and apparatus for direct use of low pressure vapor from liquid or solid precursors for selected area laser deposition

Board of Regents, University of Texas System


An apparatus for reducing the vulnerability to unauthorized entry past a r comprising a first rectangular shaped plate attached to the outside of the door, the first plate having a second or strike plate positioned to extend into the door frame to resist separation of the door and its door frame when the door is closed. The apparatus further comprises a third rectangular shaped plate attached to the inside of the door and communicating with the first plate. A portion of the first plate extends beyond the door covering a portion of the door frame. The apparatus is adapted to receive a door locking mechanism having a dead bolt. When the door is in a closed position and the dead bolt is activated, the dead bolt is extended through a pair of apertures in the door frame. Extending the dead bolt through the pair of apertures in the door frame reinforces the door and door frame and places all applied loads during forced entry directly to the dead bolt via double shear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to locks and lock mechanisms for securing a door, usually of the pivoting type, to a door frame. More specifically, the present invention relates to a door locking apparatus which may easily be retro-fitted to an existing door, its associated lock mechanism and a door frame or fitted anew to increase the effort and time required to gain unauthorized entry past the door.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, one of the easiest and most commonly used techniques to gain entry past a locked door having a bolt and its associated door frame was to forcibly separate the door and the door frame in the vicinity of the lock mechanism by, for example, a crow bar or similar type pry bar. Once separated, the lock mechanism's bolt no longer engages the door frame's bore and the door may be opened.
The military requires a secure door to prevent access to restricted areas. Compromising these areas to attempted break-ins by terrorist or other individuals trying to gain access could be disastrous to the military as well as the civilian population within the vicinity of the restricted area.
In the past, numerous attempts have been made to provide a door locking device which secures a door to its door frame. U.S. Pat. No. 1,280,993 to Issac Hammer, which issued Oct. 8, 1918 discloses a locking device comprising a striking portion having rectangular recesses therein with the recesses opening toward the door to which the lock is attached. The locking device also includes a striker plate, for attachment to the frame, which has a plurality of rectangular shackles extending from the striker plate to enter the recesses. The shackles also have perforations extending therethrough with the perforations being adapted to align with the recesses in the sides of the striking portion of the lock when the lock is closed on the striker plate. There are provided a plurality of bolts slidably mounted in the perforations for extension therethrough. There is also provided means for moving the bolts through the perforations and for withdrawing the same therefrom with the means embodying a rotary device having a thrust member operatively engaging the bolts.
A second example of a prior art device for securing a door to a door frame is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,814 to Micheal Zeager et al. which issued Apr. 18, 1995. This patent discloses a latch guarded door lock and frame system having a recessed surface which is provided in a hollow metal frame, and is dimensioned to accommodate a latch guard so that the external surfaces of the door, frame and latch guard are flush. The recessed surface of the frame behind the latch guard is further reinforced by employing a thicker wall than is used in the rest of the frame, and by welding a square metal tube into the recessed region. A medial metal support is also welded into the lock box cavity in order to prevent the lock box from collapsing under stress.
While these and similar door locking mechanisms of the past are generally satisfactory in private sector applications such as for use in a residence or a commercial business, the military has a need for door locking mechanism which will provide far greater security and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. More specifically, the military has a need for a door locking mechanism which is adapted for use with the dead bolt of commercially available dead bolt locks and which provides (1) resistance to door frame separation and (2) places the dead bolt into double shear. The military also has a need for a door locking mechanism which is completely resistant to forced entry for a time period of at least one minute.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A power system with a power apparatus for an X-ray tube is disclosed. The power system includes an X-ray tube and a power apparatus for the X-ray tube. The X-ray tube has a cathode and an anode. The power apparatus includes a first power conversion unit, a second power conversion unit, and a power switch unit. The first power conversion unit produces a positive voltage and a driving voltage and the second conversion unit produces a negative. When the power switch unit is turned off by the driving voltage, the power apparatus outputs the negative voltage to suppress electron flow energy generated from the cathode of the X-ray tube, whereas the power apparatus outputs the positive voltage to provide electron flow energy to the anode of the X-ray tube when the power switch unit is turned on by the driving voltage, thus producing X-ray.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a power apparatus for an X-ray tube, a power system with the power apparatus, and a method of operating the same, and more particularly to a power apparatus for a grid-controlled X-ray tube, a power system with the power apparatus, and a method of operating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
The power circuits of the X-ray tube is mainly composed of a main power circuit and a filament power circuit. The main power circuit is used to step up the external AC power voltage to produce a high voltage by a high-voltage transformer. The produced high voltage is applied between a cathode and an anode of the tube so that electrons generated from the cathode are struck on the anode to produce X-ray. The filament power circuit is used to step down the external AC power voltage to produce a low voltage by a filament transformer. The produced low voltage is applied between two terminals of the filament so that the filament can provide sufficient electrons by thermionic radiation.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a power apparatus for an X-ray tube, a power system with the power apparatus, and a method of operating the same that only one power switch unit is used to implement the polarity control of the grid voltage so as to reduce system costs and increase system operation stability.

Power apparatus for X-ray tube, power system with the power apparatus, and method of operating the same


A scheme and a device for managing a user state and a plurality of terminal states on a presence server, and for automatically selecting an optimum terminal by using both the user state and the terminal states. Priority degrees which depend on the terminal states are set, then selecting a terminal whose priority degree is the highest of the plurality of terminals. In association therewith, a priority rank which is set depending on the user state is also taken into consideration, thereby selecting a final optimum terminal. The present scheme makes it possible to automatically perform a fine-grained selection of the optimum terminal in which both the terminal states and the user state are taken into consideration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communications system and a communications device for calculating and selecting an optimum terminal in correspondence with terminal states.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional communications system, when a user possesses plural terminals, establishing communications with the user has required that an outgoing-message user select an incoming-message terminal from the plural terminals of the incoming-message user. For the outgoing-message user, however, it has been impossible to grasp and ascertain which of the terminals the incoming-message user is using at present, and also at which of the terminals the incoming-message user wishes to receive the incoming message. Accordingly, it has been difficult for the outgoing-message user to select an optimum terminal.
As a technology for eliminating this problem, there exists the selection of an optimum terminal by utilizing user presence. This technology has been disclosed in US 2004/0109145 A1 as an example. In this technology, vacancy/occupation state of a communications unit at each terminal is determined based on the user presence.


A process of, and apparatus for, accelerated water vapor removal from molasses is provided. Raw molasses is preheated; continuously agitated while advancing at a flowrate of at least about 1.5 gpm through a cooking apparatus in the presence of a temperature greater than 310° F.; continuously agitated while advancing through a cooling apparatus at a reduced temperature, and while removing separated water vapor water from the cooked molasses to form a cooled molasses having a homogenous temperature profile. The molasses may be admixed with supplements. The product is then packaged. An orificed helical conveyor having a plurality of protrusions from the outer perimeter agitates the cooking molasses. An orificed helical conveyor having gaps in the perimeter of the conveyor alternating with protrusions along the perimeter of the conveyor agitates the cooling molasses.

Animal feed supplements, as used herein, are manufactured nutritional products intended to supplement the basic forage, hay, grain or other diet of livestock such as bison, domesticated cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and horses, whether confined or unconfined. Molasses-based feed supplements have long been used to enhance the diets of livestock, particularly cattle. Such supplements are commonly in the form of a solid block and are placed in a stockyard for ad libitum consumption by the animals.
The rate of consumption is affected by factors including ambient temperature, humidity, tub placement location, and amount of sunlight. These factors vary from season to season. Other factors include product hardness, livestock body condition, and livestock production phase. Therefore, typically a harder product is necessary during summer months, whereas a softer product is necessary during the winter.
Crystallization of the sugars and the water content in the final product are important to obtaining the desired effect of nutrient tub consumption in livestock or wildlife. The crystallized sugars serve to encapsulate desired feedstuffs. Products vary in moisture content, for example, from about 2 weight % to about 6 weight %, for added support in consumption requirements based on the animals' daily protein, energy, and mineral deficiencies in normal non-confined or confined placements. Some products require a very low water content to ensure that the animal does not consume too much of the nutrient supplement. This is because the additional amount of nutrients consumed is essentially wasted after the daily nutritional needs are met.
This encapsulation process lengthens the duration of vitamin potency retention. Without encapsulation in a nutrient tub, most vitamins will lose potency due to oxidation when exposed to factors such as sunlight, moisture (e.g., snow) or humidity, wind, and extreme temperature. For example, cut dry roughage (such as hay) typically loses its Vitamin A content in about 6 months. The encapsulation process allows the longevity of feedstuffs to be extended for years due to reduced exposure to environmental factors and a resulting lack of oxidation.
Conventional nutrient tub production facilities are large in size. A tub production facility can take up several thousand square feet. The equipment is permanently fixed to the existing structure for the life of the facility. The conventional equipment used in these facilities offers minimal product flexibility. In addition, the reduction of water content in the final product is limited by the conventional equipment because of efficiency losses. Conventional production facilities experience heat transfer inefficiencies due to the use of a heat transfer medium.
A direct fire heat source has not been used in other nutrient tub production facilities, because of the charring that easily occurs. To minimize charring of the high sugar concentrate, other tub production facilities use an indirect heat source (usually steam), wherein heat is transferred via a jacket. The temperature of the heat source is generally limited to a maximum of about 500° F.
The manufacture of molasses-based animal feed supplements is known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,081 to McKenzie, entitled Molasses Feed Block for Animals and Method of Making Same, discusses cooking temperatures and time required for heating molasses. U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,377 to Lane et al., entitled Method for Making a Molasses-Based Animal Feed Mass, describes a process from preheating to cooling, with a two-step cooking process using steam to heat molasses. U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,729 to McKenzie et al., entitled Continuous Process for Manufacturing Animal Feed Blocks, discloses heating, preferably by indirect heat, a blend of molasses and vegetable fat to about 300° F.-400° F. for 5.5-7.1 minutes. U.S. Pat. No. 7,045,165 to Westberg, entitled Process for Manufacturing Animal Feed Supplements, shows a two-step process for cooking a blend of molasses and vegetable fat, wherein the first step operates, preferably by indirect heating, at temperatures of between 240° F.-320° F.
The use of screw conveyors to transport food substances is also known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,072 to Hirahara, entitled Continuous Pressure Cooking Apparatus, teaches a screw conveyor cooker for cooking particulate foods in sauce, and that continuous screw conveyor pressure cookers with inlet and outlet valves have been previously used for processing animal feed grains, such as milo. The screw conveyor of Hirahara, having intact flights, induces the flow of food through the cooker. U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,575 to Koch et al., entitled Process and Device for the Continuous Conveyance of Confections, describes helical rotors to convey confectionary material from a cooker to an evaporation space and further to a vacuum space.
Conventional nutrient tub manufacturing facilities have several disadvantages. If a conventional tub production facility utilizes steam as a heat transfer medium, additional burn hazards are present. Steam is a difficult heat transfer medium to contain. Steam piping often leaks at pipe fittings and connections. Conventional tub production facilities generally require boilers and additional insulated piping to carry steam. Insulation must be maintained on steam piping to prevent energy losses. In addition, water tanks and conditioning equipment must be purchased to utilize steam as a heat transfer medium. Costs for boilers and additional equipment can range as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars. These are significant start-up costs. Costs for additional building space as required by conventional tub production facilities can also be significant (potentially hundreds of thousands). Maintenance costs should also be considered. Conventional tub production facilities must maintain steam piping and fittings. Insulation must be kept in good working order to prevent heat losses. Heat losses are costly when fuel costs are considered.
There is a need for a compact nutrient tub production apparatus that would allow for a transportable facility. There is also a need to reduce the production time necessary to manufacture nutrient tubs while maintaining the quality of the product.

Method of accelerated water vapor removal from high sugar concentrates


Silanation compositions containing a mixture of two or more silanation reagents, where at least one silanation reagent includes a functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis and at least one silanation reagent includes no functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis are useful in modulating the active site density and hydrolytic stability of a surface. These compositions are particularly useful in silanating a surface prior to preparation of a polymer array and provide for increased hybridization results.

Silanating reagents have been developed which react with and coat surfaces, such as silica surfaces. Monofunctional silanating reagents have been used to form monolayer surface coatings, while di- and tri-functional silanating reagents have been used to form polymerized coatings on silica surfaces, providing reaction sites for covalent attachment of various materials to the surface. Many silanating reagents, however, produce coatings with undesirable properties including instability to hydrolysis and an inadequate ability to mask the silica surface.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A back light module is disclosed. The back light module comprises a frame, a reflective mask, a light guide plate, a linear light source and a baffle plate, wherein the reflective mask is installed in the frame. The linear light source is surrounded by the light guide plate and the reflective mask. The baffle plate is disposed between the linear light source and the light guide plate and the baffle plate is connected to the reflective mask and the frame. The baffle plate disposed between the linear light source and the light guide plate is adapted for absorbing impact force during the impact test and reducing the possibility of displacement of the light guide plate. Thus, the possibility of damage to the linear light source due to displacement of the light guide plate can be effectively reduced. Thus, the reliability of the notebook computer can be effectively promoted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a back light module. More particularly, the present invention relates to a back light module capable of reducing damage to the linear light source thereof by the impact of the light guide plate during the impact test.
2. Description of Related Art
With the advancement of information technology, the personal computer is developing toward portable notebook computer as the portable notebook computer provides convenience of portability and access to information. Therefore the notebook computer is highly attractive to a variety of people for business, correspondence, research, entertainment and the like. Different types of the portable notebook computers have been extensively developed in order to meet various needs of users.
Generally, in order to ensure the quality of the notebook computer such as operation and stability under various conditions, prior to shipping out to the warehouse for storage, the notebook computer are being subjected to a plurality of tests during various manufacturing stages. As for impact test, as the reflective mask for light is difficult to firmly fix the light, and therefore the light guide plate may easily get displaced and because it is positioned proximate to the linear light source, and therefore the displacement of the light guide plate towards the linear light source may damage the linear light source. One conventional solution for resolving the above problem is to form an ear portion 131a on the light guide plate 131 and a protrusion portion 110a on the frame 110 (as shown in FIG. 1A) such that the ear portion 131a of the light guide plate 131 is locked onto the protrusion portion 110a of the frame 110 to prevent displacement of the light guide plate 131 toward the linear light source (not shown) during the impact test.
However, in order to increase the efficiency of the light guide plate, a plurality of V-shaped notches are formed on the surface of the light guide plate. However, as the ear portion may interfere with V-shaped notches, therefore the aforementioned technique of securing the light guide plate to the frame is not suitable for the light guide plate with V-shaped notches.
To resolve the aforementioned problem, another conventional solution is described as follows. FIG. 1B is a perspective schematic view of a portion of a conventional back light module. FIG. 1C is a schematic view of a guide light plate positioned using a double sided tape on a frame of the conventional back light module. Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1C, the conventional back light module comprises a frame 110, a reflective mask 120, a light guide plate 130 and a linear light source (not shown), wherein the reflective mask 120 is installed in the frame 110. The light guide plate 130 has a light incidence side 132 lodged into the reflective mask 120. The linear light source (not shown) is installed between the light incidence side 132 of the light guide plate 130 and the reflective mask 120.
In order to resolve the aforementioned problem, the light guide plate 130 therein is resisted from being displaced. The light guide plate 130 can be firmly fixed on the reflective mask 120 and the guide light plate 130 can be attached to the frame 110 using a double sided tape 140 (as shown in FIG. 1C) to resist the guide light plate 130 from displacing from the reflective mask 120. However, securing strength using the reflective mask 120 to hold the light guide plate 130 and using the double sided tape 140 to attach the reflective mask 120 to the frame 110 is not adequate, and during the impact test, the light guide plate 130 come loose from the reflective mask 120 and damage the linear light source.


This disclosure provides methods and systems of embedding and extracting information in a printed document. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method is provided wherein information is encoded by one or more partial or complete gaps in a line associated with a form, and the line gaps are patterned to provide N-bit codes.

Form is one type of the most frequently used document in the services business. There is often a need for embedding information in a paper form. The information could be used for various purposes, for example, verification, tampering prevention and process control. One application includes the mailing of forms to the general population as surveys. Currently, each of the pages on these forms may have a bar code which connects the form and page to an individual to whom the form was sent for completion. According to the disclosed methods and systems of embedding/extracting information, the bar code is eliminated by embedding the information in invisible or aesthetically pleasing marks.
While the technology described in this disclosure is applied to lines on forms, it can also be used for other type of documents.
Related art exists on encoding information via adding tiny dots/marks, see U.S. Pat. No. 8,224,019, by Fan et al., issued Jul. 17, 2012, entitled "EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN DOCUMENT BLANK SPACE"; U.S. Pat. No. 8,243,982, by Fan et al., issued Aug. 14, 2012, entitled "EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN DOCUMENT BORDER SPACE"; U.S. Pat. No. 7,792,324, by Fan et al., issued Sep. 7, 2010, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING MINIATURE SECURITY MARKS"; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,710, by Fan et al., issued Nov. 6, 2007, entitled "SYSTEM FOR RECORDING IMAGE DATA FROM A SET OF SHEETS HAVING SIMILAR GRAPHIC ELEMENTS". Each of the above-cited methods of encoding information has its own trade-off with respect to channel capacity, visibility, robustness, and complexity of encoding/decoding.


A system for tracking movable crane components to assist maneuvering the crane within a jobsite includes a computing device having a processor which calculates a 3D geospatial location and orientation of a 3D coordinate system for an upperworks that has an origin chosen along an axis of rotation between the upperworks and a lowerworks. The processor calculates a 3D position of the origin of the upperworks based on local coordinates and transforms the 3D position of the origin of the upperworks from the local coordinates to global 3D coordinates using absolute position sensing data from first and second positioning sensors attached to the crane (for instance on the upperworks and the hook, respectively) and using global 3D coordinates specific to the jobsite where the crane is located. The upperworks 3D coordinate system is useable to determine line segments in the upperworks 3D coordinate system for various movable components.

The present disclosure relates generally to the modeling and tracking of equipment at a construction jobsite. More specifically, the disclosure relates to determining three-dimensional (3D) geospatial coordinates of a crane that enables the tracking of moveable components of a crane, which assists with safely maneuvering the crane within a jobsite.
Construction jobsites typically contain a variety of elements such as equipment, power lines, structures, building materials, and personnel. Depending on the phase of a project, there are changing arrangements of these elements while the building project itself progresses toward completion. For instance, earth-moving equipment and personnel from one contractor may be at the jobsite in an early part of the project. Subsequently, raw material and another set of personnel from another contractor generally arrive; perhaps in a concurrent manner, or perhaps in a completely serial manner. Next, erection equipment such as cranes and work platforms arrive and most likely another set of personnel to run the cranes and construct the work platforms. Prior to a particular execution phase, construction processes are usually planned, simulated, and documented during a design phase, which is intended to optimize operations for various parameters such as schedule, resources, costs, and profits. A part of planning for execution may include safety considerations in regards to equipment maneuvering on a jobsite that avoids collisions with static or dynamic obstacles.


The present invention relates to a thermally conductive thin sheet for protecting an element, etc. integrated in an electronic device from heat, and an article comprising the same. As the thermally conductive thin film sheet has a thermally conductive filler layer formed on both surfaces of a thermally conductive adhesive film having a composite filler, the thermally conductive thin film sheet has excellent tensile strength and flexibility and thus is easy to handle while having a high fill factor of the thermally conductive filler. Accordingly, heat generated during use can be effectively removed by applying the thermally conductive thin film sheet to various articles such as electronic devices, illumination equipment, etc., in which a light emitting source such as an LED, an OLED, etc. is adopted or IC chips are highly integrated.

Recently, as electronic devices have been highly integrated and thinner in a rapid pace, the performance of chips mounted in such devices has been reinforced. This trend is spreading to not only electric/electronic devices but also automobiles, medical devices, and so on. As the chips used in electronic devices are highly integrated, heat is more generated, thereby causing many problems such as degradation in the performance of the electronic devices, malfunction of their peripheral devices, deterioration of their substrates, and the like. Especially, a thinner heat-dissipating material is required for a lighting device or an electronic device that employs an LED, an OLED, or the like. In this regard, a substrate on which IC chips are mounted is made of a metal PCB having good thermal conductivity, or a heat sink made of aluminum is used, to thereby control heat.
Further, a thermally conductive sheet that employs a carbon-based material (such as natural graphite and synthetic graphite), copper foil, or the like is mainly used for controlling heat in electronic devices (see Korean Patent No. 1509494).
Among these, a natural graphite sheet is generally manufactured by treating flaky graphite with a strong acid such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid, having the graphite expanded at a high temperature of 1000° C. or higher, subjecting it to acid washing, and rolling the washed graphite. This process, however, involves disadvantages that environmental contamination is generated and that expensive equipment is needed.
Further, due to its low tensile strength, this graphite sheet should be made to be thick for its handling convenience. When a thin graphite sheet is required, it is prepared by adding a UV curable resin or the like to expanded graphite, irradiating UV light thereto, and rolling the graphite for the purpose of enhancing the tensile strength of the graphite sheet thus produced. Further, a synthetic graphite sheet is superior in such performance as thermal conductivity and tensile strength as well as handling convenience to a natural graphite sheet. However, since a synthetic graphite sheet is manufactured by calcining an expensive polyimide film at high temperatures of 2,000 to 3,000° C., it requires expensive equipment along with high costs, and it is difficult to manufacture the sheet in the form of a roll in a width of 1,000 mm or more.
Copper foil has an intermediate level of thermal conductivity and tensile strength between a natural graphite sheet and a synthetic graphite sheet. Copper foil, however, has disadvantages that the manufacture of a thin copper foil involves high costs and that it is inconvenient to handle copper foil because it is not flexible and it is hardly restored once crumpled.
Accordingly, it is necessary to employ a thermally conductive thin sheet, which not only has high thermal conductivity and high tensile strength, but also is convenient to handle and economical, in an article such as an electronic device to thereby effectively dissipate heat generated during the use of the article.

Thermally conductive thin film sheet and article comprising same


Described herein is a method of providing synchronization between a plurality of base stations (300) in a telecommunications system which comprises providing a random access channel in each cell (320). A local base station (300) uses the random access channel in the local cell to transmit a synchronization signal to neighboring base stations. For each base station, the time differences between received synchronization signals from neighboring base stations and the local synchronization signal are calculated. Each set of time differences is either used to autonomously synchronize the local base station or is centralized in a radio network controller and a set of corrections distributed from the RNC to the base stations.

The UMTS terrestrial radio access time division duplex (UTRA TDD) mode is based on a combination of code division multiple access (CDMA) and hybrid time division multiple access (TDMA). UMTS is an acronym for universal mobile telecommunication system as will be understood by persons skilled in the art.
Reliable operation in the UTRA TDD mode, incorporating the combined TD-CDMA multiple access scheme, requires synchronisation between base stations within a compliant telecommunications system. Moreover the mode also requires the provision of position information for the mobile stations affiliated to each base station. Synchronisation between base stations is also desirable in order to maximise system capacity. To these ends, the synchronisation of base stations must be achieved at the levels of time slots, frames and multi-frames, where a multi-frame is a repeating cycle of a number of frames.
One known mechanism for synchronising the base stations is to equip each base station with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. However, this is not always appropriate or even possible; for example, an area of deployment may be shadowed from the GPS constellation of satellites by tall buildings. For this and other reasons, alternative mechanisms for synchronising the base stations are required.
In an alternative mechanism, the base stations are synchronised over the backhaul network; the network which enables base stations to switch mobile communications into public telephone networks or the internet. However, if this mechanism is implemented according to a packet protocol (for example, internet protocol (IP) or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)), then synchronisation will only be possible to a coarse accuracy.


The present invention provides a basic protein and a basic peptide composition which can be administered orally and has the ability to stimulate osteoblast proliferation, strengthen bone and inhibit bone resorption. Said basic protein has the following properties: (1) a molecular weight distribution of is 2,000-24,000; (2) an isoelectric point distribution of is 7.5-11; and (3) it is comprised of more than 10% of basic amino acids. Said composition can be obtained by the following steps: After milk, or raw material derived from milk, is loaded onto a cation exchange resin column, a fraction is obtained by eluting with an eluent of 0.1-1.0M salt concentration, precipitate removed by (i) heating to over 75.degree. C., (ii) by adding alcohol so that the final concentration thereof is 10-50% or (iii) by adding salts so that the final concentration thereof will be more than 0.2M; and the supernatant thereof containing the basic protein fraction recovered.

Coincident with an increase in human life-span is the recent increase in the incidence of metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, bone fracture, and bone pain etc. In bone tissue, bone formation and bone resorption are always taking place. While the balance of bone formation and bone resorption takes place in one's youth, bone resorption exceeds bone formation due to various causes as one ages, ("uncoupling"). Prolonged bone resorption causes bone tissue to become fragile, resulting in metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, bone fracture, bone pain, etc. Accordingly, if uncoupling could be inhibited, metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis, bone fracture, bone pain, etc. may be prevented.
Conventional methods of preventing or treating metabolic bone diseases by inhibiting uncoupling include, but are not limited to, (1) dietary calcium supplementation, (2) light exercise, (3) sunbathing and (4) medicinal therapy, etc. are exemplified. Calcium supplements include calcium salts, such as calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, etc., and naturally occurring calcium-containing preparations, such as bovine bone powder, egg shell, fish bone powder, etc. They are, however, not necessarily suitable for oral administration. Light exercise, jogging or walking are also recommended. However, these activities are troublesome to a person who has become weak or is an immobilized elderly person. Sunbathing is believed to be beneficial for supplementing the active form of vitamin D.sub.3 but is not sufficient as therapy. A medicinal therapy, such as 1.alpha.-hydroxyvitamin D.sub.3 and/or calcitonin, may be used as an effective treatment for osteoporosis. However, these compounds are medicines and can not be used as food supplements.
The present inventors have discovered that a fraction obtained from whey protein was effective for strengthening bone (Japanese published unexamined patent application No. 183371 (1992)). Further, the present inventors found that a subfraction obtained from the above bone strengthening fraction by treating with ethanol, heating, treating with salts or treating with ultrafiltration membrane was effective for stimulating proliferation of osteoblasts and for strengthening bone (Japanese published unexamined patent application No. 176715 (1993), Japanese published unexamined patent application No. 320066 (1993)). In addition, the present inventors found that the basic protein fraction present at very low levels in milk was able to stimulate proliferation of osteoblasts, strengthen bone and prohibit bone resorption (Japanese patent application No. 207509(1995)).
The present inventors found that a basic protein composition obtained from milk-derived basic protein fractions by various kinds of treatment thereof had the activity of stimulating osteoblast proliferation, strengthening bone and inhibiting bone resorption. Further, the inventors found that a basic peptide composition obtained from the above basic protein composition by protease degradation also had the activity of stimulating osteoblast proliferation, strengthening bone and inhibiting bone resorption.

Basic protein composition, basic peptide composition and application thereof


The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a capacitor in a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor is fabricated such that the capacitor comprises: a trench inside a substrate, the trench having a lower region and an upper region, wherein the trench's diameters in the lower region is larger than in the upper region; a first electrode; a dielectric layer on top of the first electrode; a conductive layer on top of the electric layer, the conductive layer forming a second electrode of the capacitor; and a plug forming a closed cavity inside the lower region.

A method of fabricating a capacitor in a semiconductor substrate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,693,016, which is incorporated herein by reference. The capacitor according to this patent comprises a dielectric layer with a relatively high dielectric constant and metallic electrode layers to avoid space charge regions.
Prior art methods of fabricating capacitors in a substrate induce a significant mechanical stress inside the substrate's surface. Due to this mechanical stress, the substrate may bow. Substrates such as wafers of large diameters are difficult to handle and to further process if they are bent or non-planar.


The memory device is described, which includes a substrate, a conductive layer, a charge storage layer, a plurality of first doped regions and a plurality of second doped regions. The substrate has a plurality of trenches formed therein. The conductive layer is disposed on the substrate and fills the trenches. The charge storage layer is disposed between the substrate and the conductive layer. The first doped regions are configured in the substrate adjacent to both sides of an upper portion of each trench, respectively. The first doped regions between the neighbouring trenches are separated from each other. The second doped regions are configured in the substrate under bottoms of the trenches, respectively. The second doped regions and the first doped regions are separated from each other, such that each memory cell includes six physical bits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a memory device, and to a fabricating method and an operating method of the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A memory is a semiconductor device designed for storing information or data. As the functions of computer microprocessors become more and more powerful, programs and operations executed by software are increasing correspondingly. Consequentially, the demand for high storage capacity memories is getting more. Among various types of memory products, a non-volatile memory allows multiple-time data programming, reading and erasing operations, and the data stored therein can be retained even after the power to the memory is terminated. With these advantages, the non-volatile memory has become one of the most widely adopted memories for personal computers and electronic equipment.
Electrically programmable and erasable non-volatile memory technologies based on charge storage structures known as electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and flash memory are used in a variety of modern applications. A typical flash memory is designed with an array of memory cells that can be independently programmed and read. The conventional flash memory cells store charge on a floating gate. When the memory is programmed, the electrons injected into the floating gate uniformly distributes in the polysilicon layer. However, when there are defects in the tunnel oxide layer under the polysilicon floating gate, the leakage is easily produced in the device. Hence, the reliability of the device is compromised.
Another type of the flash memory uses a charge-trapping structure, such as a layer of non-conductive SiN material, rather than the conductive gate material used in floating gate devices. When a charge-trapping cell is programmed, the charge is trapped and does not move through the non-conductive layer. The charge is retained by the charge trapping layer until the cell is erased, retaining the data state without continuously applied electrical power. In addition, the electrons are only stored in a portion of the charge trapping layer over the channel region adjacent to the source region or drain region when the device is programmed. Because the charge does not move through the non-conductive charge trapping layer, charge can be localized on different charge-trapping sites.
Conventionally, there are two physically separated storage sites in a memory cell with planar channel, which is considered as a 2-bit-per-cell memory device. The only way for increasing storage density is achieved by scaling the cell length of the planar channel cell. When the cell length is scaled down, the planar channel cell is prone to worse programming disturbance and higher resistance of the source and drain regions.
In order to increase the number of bits in a unit cell, a memory structure defined by trenches with a vertical memory cell is developed. There are four storage sites in a single vertical channel cell, which can be considered as a 4-bit-per-cell memory device. However, the electrons punch through easily between two bottom junctions, and the leakage in the memory structure is induced severely. The programming disturbance usually occurs due to the close deployment of neighboring trenches. Besides, threshold voltage Vt of a target bit can be affected by a bit state nearby, if the neighboring vertical channel cells are too close to each other and not well isolated.

Memory device and methods for fabricating and operating the same


According to an aspect, a medical device includes an elongate member, a needle, and a suture. The needle is movably coupled to the elongate member. The suture is disposed within a lumen defined by the elongate member. The suture has a coupling member coupled to a first portion of the suture. The coupling member is configured to be coupled to a second portion of the suture.

A variety of medical procedures are performed to provide support to portions of a body of a patient. For example, some medical procedures are performed to treat various female pelvic dysfunctions, including procedures to treat urinary incontinence, and correcting various prolapse conditions such as uterine prolapse, cystoceles, rectoceles, and vaginal vault prolapse.
Some such medical procedures have included placing implants within the pelvic region of the patient. Some of the implants are delivered to the pelvic region of the patient through one or more vaginal incisions, and/or through exterior incisions in the patient.
Often such implants are delivered or placed within the body of the patient and coupled or attached to various locations within the body using a series of sutures or knots. For example, in procedures such as sacrocolpopexy procedures, a suture may be tied 4 to 8 times to form a single knot and a series of 12 of more knots may be used to secure an implant within the body of the patient. Accordingly, a procedure for placing and attaching an implant within a body of a patient may require time and skill.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a delivery or coupling tool that includes components or features that would facilitate the delivery and/or attachment process of implants within a body of a patient.

Implant fixation devices and methods of using the same


In a chemical vapor deposition apparatus in which a liquid raw material is vaporized by bubbling and the vaporized material is used as a raw material gas, an orifice is provided in a pipe between a reaction unit (a dispersion head) and a vaporizing unit (a bubbler), whereby the pressure in the vaporizing unit is controlled so that it is made higher than that in the reaction unit. Instability of the pressure in the vaporizing unit which occurs in the initial phase of film formation is eliminated so that the film formation can be stably performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chemical vapor deposition apparatus and in particular to a chemical vapor deposition apparatus having a supply system for bubbling a liquid raw material to vaporize it and for stably supplying the resulting raw material gas to a reaction unit.
2. Description of Prior Art
A conventional chemical vapor deposition (hereinafter referred to as CVD) apparatus having a supply system for bubbling a liquid raw material to vaporize it and supplying the resulting raw material gas to a reaction unit is shown in FIG. 1. The flow rate of a bubbling gas passing through a bubbling gas supply pipe 8 is controlled by a mass flow controller 3 and the bubbling gas is introduced into a bubbler 1. The raw material gas which has been obtained by the vaporization of the raw material due to the bubbing in the bubbler 1 is fed to a heated introduction pipe 11 (due to a heater 9) together with the bubbling gas. When film formation is carried out, a change-over valve 5 is opened and a change-over valve 6 is closed to introduce the raw material gas into a reaction unit 4 for depositing films. On the other hand, when film formation is not performed, the change-over valve 5 is closed and the change-over valve 6 is opened to directly discharge the gas through a bypass line 12 to an exhaust pipe 7 without passing through the reaction unit 4.
The prior art CVD apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 has a problem that the flow rate of the raw material gas becomes unstable when the valves 5 and 6 are switched or changed over and as a result that it becomes impossible to stably grow the film.
The instability of the raw material gas flow rate when the valves are switched is caused by a phenomenon that the pressure in the bubbler fluctuates due to the difference in conductance between a bypass line 12 and the reaction unit 4.
The flow rate Q.sub.L of the raw material gas is theoretically given by the following formula: EQU Q.sub.L =Q.sub.B .multidot.P.sub.L / (P.sub.O -P.sub.L)
wherein Q.sub.B represents the flow rate of the bubbling gas; P.sub.L represents the vapor pressure of the liquid raw material; and P.sub.O represents the pressure in the bubber. The flow rate Q.sub.B of the bubbling gas is controlled by the mass flow controller 3 and the vapor pressure P.sub.L of the liquid raw material is controlled by controlling the temperature of the liquid raw material. In the prior art, however, a change in the conductance at the side of introduction pipe 11 causes the fluctuation of the pressure P.sub.O in the bubbler 1, resulting in an instability of the raw material gas flow rate Q.sub.L. In order to obtain the stable flow rate of the raw material gas, it is necessary to suppress the fluctuations of the pressure in the bubbler 1 caused by the change in pressure in the reaction unit 4.


A compound of formula (IV): O is a solid support; L is a linking group or a single bond; X′ is selected from CO, NH, S, or O; A is O, S, NH, or a single bond; R2 and R3 are independently selected from: H, R, OH, OR, ═O, ═CH—R, ═CH2, CH2—CO2R, CH2—CO2H, CH2—SO2R, O—SO2R, CO2R, COR, CN and there is optionally a double bond between C1 and C2 or C2 and C3; R6, R7, and R9 are independently selected from H, R, OH, OR, halo, nitro, amino, Me3Sn; R11 is either H or R; Q is S, O or NH; R10 is a nitrogen protecting group; and Y is a divalent group such that HY═R, and other related compounds and collections of compounds.

A large number of both synthetic and naturally occurring low molecular weight ligands are known that interact with DNA via a number of different mechanisms, including covalent or non-covalent interaction in the minor or major grooves, intercalation between base pairs or other types of non-specific interactions.
A particular class of compounds which interacts with the minor groove are the pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs). PBDs have the ability to recognise and bond to specific sequences of DNA; the most preferred sequence is PuGPu (Purine-Guanine-Purine). The first PBD antitumour antibiotic, anthramycin, was discovered in 1965 (Leimgruber et al., 1965 J. Am. Chem. Soc., 87, 5793-5795; Leimgruber et al., 1965 J. Am. Chem. Soc., 87, 5791-5793). Since then, a number of naturally occurring PBDs have been reported, and over 10 synthetic routes have been developed to a variety of analogues (Thurston et al., 1994 Chem. Rev. 1994, 433-465). Family members include abbeymycin (Hochlowski et al., 1987 J. Antibiotics, 40, 145-148), chicamycin (Konishi et al., 1984 J. Antibiotics, 37, 200-206), DC-81 (Japanese Patent 58-180 487; Thurston et al., 1990, Chem. Brit., 26, 767-772; Bose et al., 1992 Tetrahedron, 48, 751-758), mazethramycin (Kuminoto et al., 1980 J. Antibiotics, 33, 665-667), neothramycins A and B (Takeuchi et al., 1976 J. Antibiotics, 29, 93-96), porothramycin (Tsunakawa et al., 1988 J. Antibiotics, 41, 1366-1373), prothracarcin (Shimizu et al., 1982 J. Antibiotics, 29, 2492-2503; Langley and Thurston, 1987 J. Org. Chem., 52, 91-97), sibanomicin (DC-102) (Hara et al., 1988 J. Antibiotics, 41, 702-704; Itoh et al., 1988 J. Antibiotics, 41, 1281-1284), sibiromycin (Leber et al., 1988 J. Am. Chem. Soc., 110, 2992-2993) and tomamycin (Arima et al., 1972 J. Antibiotics, 25, 437-444).
PBDs are of the general structure:

They differ in the number, type and position of substituents, in both their aromatic A rings and pyrrolo C rings, and in the degree of saturation of the C ring. There is either an imine (N═C), carbinolamine (NH—CH(OH))or a carbinolamine methyl ether (NH—CH(OMe))at the N10-C11 position which is the electrophilic centre responsible for alkylating DNA. All of the known natural products have an (S)-configuration at the chiral C11a position which provides them with a right-handed twist when viewed from the C ring towards the A ring. This gives them the appropriate three-dimensional shape for isohelicity with the minor groove of B-form DNA, leading to a snug fit at the binding site (Kohn, 1975 In Antibiotics III. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 3-11; Hurley and Needham-VanDevanter, 1986 Acc. Chem. Res., 19, 230-237). Their ability to form an adduct in the minor groove enables them to interfere with DNA processing, hence their use as antitumour agents.

Library of compounds comprising pyrrolobenzodiazepine moieties


Disclosed is a semiconductor device, comprising a substrate having a first region and a second region surrounding the first region, a MOS transistor formed in the first region, a first conductive layer formed in the first region and constituting the lower layer of a two-layered gate electrode of the MOS transistor, a second conductive layer for isolation, the second conductive layer being formed in the second region and having an upper surface whose level is lower than that of the upper surface of the first conductive layer, a first insulating layer formed between the first and second regions, a second insulating layer formed on the second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer formed over the first conductive layer and the second insulating layer and constituting the upper layer of the two-layered gate electrode of the MOS transistor.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device such as SOI (Silicon on Insulator)--MOSFET and a method of manufacturing the same.
A SOI-MOSFET, which is operable at high speed under a low voltage, exhibits a high driving performance, has a small parasitic capacitance, and is free from soft errors, attracts attentions in this technical field as being highly hopeful in future.
However, the SOI device exhibits a so-called "floating body effect", i.e., the effect produced by the condition that the SOI body is put under an electrically floating state, such as deterioration of the drain breakdown voltage or generation of kink in the static characteristics. In order to put the SOI device into practical use, it is highly important to solve the problem of the floating body effect.
Various measures are being proposed for eliminating the floating body effect. For example, it is proposed to allow the channel region to extend to a region outside the gate region so as to permit the channel region (SOI Body) to be electrically connected to the electrode for body contact. Also proposed is a BTS (Body-Tied-to-Source) structure in which the body is tied to the source. However, the former measure makes the pattern design complex and leads to increases in the element area and gate capacitance. On the other hand, the latter measure causes the source and drain to cease to be interchangeable and brings about reduction in the channel width, leading to a decreased drain current.
Further proposed is an FS (Field Shield) isolation technology, which is said to be capable of solving the above-noted problems and of suppressing the floating body effect.
FIG. 1A is a plan view exemplifying the construction of a conventional device utilizing the FS isolation technology, with FIG. 1B showing a cross section along line 1B--1B shown in FIG. 1A. A reference numeral 51 shown in the drawing denotes a silicon substrate. It is shown that a buried oxide (BOX) layer 52 and a SOI layer 53 are formed on the silicon substrate 51. A SOI substrate consists of these silicon substrate 51, BOX layer 52 and SOI layer 53. Formed on the SOI substrate are a LOCOS isolation layer 54, an FS gate 55 and a transfer gate electrode 56. It should be noted that an electrode 58 for a body contact is connected to the SOI layer 53 through an opening 57a. Also, an electrode (not shown) for contact with the FS gate 55 is connected to the FS gate 55 through an opening 57b. Further, electrodes (not shown) for contact with source and drain regions are connected to the source and drain regions through openings 57c.
The FS isolation technology outlined above makes it possible to achieve a construction which permits the holes accumulated within the channel region, said holes causing the floating gate effect, to flow through a region below the FS gate into the body contact. It is also possible to suppress an increase in the element area, if a well contact region employed in an LSI device having the ordinary bulk silicon substrate is used in the body contact region in the SOI device.
However, the FS isolation technology gives rise to serious problems. First of all, a stepped portion corresponding to the thickness of the FS electrode causes the gate electrode formed on the FS gate to have an irregular surface, making it difficult to process the gate electrode. Also, where the FS gate is present over the entire isolation region and an upper wiring is formed on the isolation region, the capacitive coupling between the upper wiring and the FS gate is increased so as to give a detrimental effect to the operating speed of the device. Further, where a LOCOS isolation or a trench isolation is employed in combination with the FS isolation for decreasing the capacitive coupling, the number of manufacturing steps is markedly increased.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A transapically-implanted mitral valve flexible closure plate blocking body comprising: a flexible closure plate (7), a left and right guide wire (8), a guide ring (13) and a fixation plug (12). The fixation plug (12) is fixedly implanted at a cardiac apex (4) of the heart, the flexible closure plate (7) is located at an anterior and posterior leaflet junction of the heart, the left and right guide wire (8) respectively pass through a hook (6) on the same side, are fixedly connected to the flexible closure plate (7) in the upper portion on the same side, and respectively pass through a guide ring (13) fixedly connected in the lower portion of the flexible closure plate (7) on the same side, and are fixedly connected to the fixation plug (12). An implantation method thereof is also provided.

The human heart and valve are shown in FIG. 1. The left ventricle 3 is located at the upper left of the cardiac apex 4, the mitral valve 2 is located between the left atrium 1 and the left ventricle 3, and the mitral valve 2 controls the unidirectional flow of blood from the left atrium 1 into the left ventricle 3. The dysfunctional mitral valve 2 may cause the two leaflets of the mitral valve 2 to be incompletely closed, causing the blood to flow back from the left ventricle 3 to the left atrium during systoles. Mitral valve regurgitation will cause pulmonary congestion and left ventricular 3 hypertrophy, which ultimately leads to heart failure and death of patients.
The structure of the mitral valve 2 is shown in FIG. 2. The mitral valve 2 is a complex one-way valve structure that withstands blood pressure, consisting of a mitral valve annulus 2.1, an anterior leaflet 2.2, a posterior leaflet 2.3, chordae 2.4, papillary muscles 2.5 and myocardium on the left ventricular wall. The papillary muscles 2.5 are attached to the left ventricular wall. The anterior leaflet 2.2 and the posterior leaflet 2.3 are attached to the mitral valve annulus 2.1. The mitral valve annulus 2.1 is an internal tissue structure that connects the anterior leaflet 2.2, the posterior leaflet 2.3, and the left ventricular wall. According to the tissue structure of the mitral valve annulus 2.1, it is divided into a fibrous layer of the anteromedial segment and a muscle layer of the posterior-lateral segment. The chordae 2.4 start from the papillary muscles 2.5 and are attached to the leaflets to prevent the anterior leaflet 2.2 and the posterior leaflet 2.3 from prolapsing into the left atrium when the heart contracts.
The state of a normal mitral valve during closure is as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. After the mitral valve is closed, there is no gap between the anterior leaflet 2.2 and the posterior leaflet 2.3, and the anterior and posterior leaflet junction 5 is completely closed with no regurgitation. When the state of the mitral valve 2 during closure is as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a gap exists between the anterior and posterior leaflet junction 5 of the mitral valve 2. The gap between the anterior and posterior leaflet junction 5 causes the blood to flow from the left ventricle 3 back to the left atrium 1 (as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5) when the heart contracts. Such flow-back is called mitral valve regurgitation, which reduces heart efficiency and causes heart failure.
At present, for the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, there are mainly annuloplasty, mechanical mitral valve or bioprosthetic mitral valve transplantation, etc., most of which need to open the chest, open the heart, which causes big trauma to the human body, and has low reliability, resulting in 50% of mitral valve regurgitation recurrence within 5 years after treatment. The existing advanced minimally invasive treatment method is to clamp the midpoints of the anterior and posterior leaflet edges together through a mitral valve clamp (MitraClip, Abbott, USA) to form two independent blood flow channels to reduce blood regurgitation, but this method has residual regurgitation.

Transapically-implanted mitral valve flexible coaptation plate blocking body and implantation method


A method for controlling vehicle speed comprises sensing a position of an operator input, engaging a retarder upon the position falling below a first threshold, modifying a retarding force exerted by the retarder based on the position while the retarder is engaged and the position is below a second threshold, and disengaging the retarder upon the position rising above the second threshold.

Vehicle speed may be controlled through various mechanisms, including brakes and retarders. Brakes and retarders may be used to slow a vehicle or prevent acceleration, such as during descents. Retarders may be used instead of brakes to minimize the wear and localized heat caused by brake applications, particularly if a descent is long, steep, or undertaken while the vehicle is fully loaded.
In those applications where it is advantageous for a vehicle to use a retarder instead of brakes, it may be desirable to make the application of the retarder as easy and automatic as possible to encourage its usage where appropriate. It may also be desirable to reduce the number of cycles the retarder experiences to reduce the wear associated with cycling the retarder and any discontinuities in vehicle acceleration such cycling may cause.


A computer system may receive an instruction to perform an action on an object. A schedule manager may identify a set of processes associated with the action that need to be performed by the computer system. A subset of primary process and a subset of secondary processes may be identified from the set of processes associated with the action. The schedule manager may schedule an asynchronous process to perform the subset of secondary processes on the object. The computer system may perform the subset of primary processes on the object. The subset of secondary process may be performed by the asynchronous process based upon the scheduling.

Within many applications running on a computer system, there may be actions initiated by a user that trigger a series of processes to be performed by the system. After a user has triggered a particular action, control is transferred to the system to perform the series of processes. Control of the system conventionally would not return to the user until all processes have been completed. The series of processes may need to be performed on a plurality of data objects within the computer system. During this time, the user of the system must wait until the series of processes has been completed by the system and control of the system is transferred back to the user.
In modern computing, users are likely to become dissatisfied with a delay while processes are being performed by the system. A delay of only a few seconds may seem inconvenient to some users. Therefore, it is desirable to optimize the period of time a user must wait for a series of processes to be performed by the system.

Method and system to perform time consuming follow-up processes


A method of modulating and in particular, reducing nitrous oxide emission from a substrate for growing on or more plants by applying a microbial based soil additive and a fertilizer blend to the substrate.

Recent concerns about increased accumulations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have stimulated interest in developing better crop management practices to decrease N2O emissions from agricultural soils. Agriculture is the single largest source of anthropogenic N2O emissions (Bouwman et al., 2005). Currently, agricultural N2O emissions are more than twice that of pre-1940 management practices and about six times more than from native vegetation (Del Grosso et al., 2005). Nitrogen fertilization is considered the major source of agricultural N2O emissions, contributing 60 to 80% of total emissions on a global scale (Dalal et al., 2003; FAO, 2008). To meet growing demands for food, however, N fertilization is needed to optimize crop yields. Thus, considerable effort is being spent extensively studying fertilization practices to reduce N2O emissions.
Estimations of N2O emissions from N fertilizers applied to agricultural crops vary widely because N2O fluxes depend on many factors, such as the type of N fertilizer and the amount of N applied (Eichner, 1990). For instance, losses of N2O are greater with NH4NO3 than with urea (Harrison and Webb, 2001). Also, N2O emission rates are 0.04% for NO3, 0.15 to 0.19% for NH4 and urea, and 5% for anhydrous NH3 (Breitenbeck et al., 1980; Slemr and Seiler, 1984). The concentrations of NH4 and NO3 in the soil, however, have a greater effect on N2O emissions than the specific fertilizer type applied (Harrison and Webb, 2001).
Microbial interactions in the soil are a very important aspect of N2O emissions from agricultural soils. Native soil microorganisms are responsible for the degradation and conversion of different forms of N in the soil. The most important chemical reactions that take place in the N cycle are mineralization, immobilization, nitrification, denitrification, N2 fixation, and volatilization. These chemical reactions are largely affected by environmental conditions such as temperature and soil moisture. Because environmental conditions are constantly changing, the interactions among all the chemical reactions are very dynamic. Harrison and Webb (2001) suggested that denitrification is the main process responsible for N2O emissions under anaerobic soil conditions, while nitrification accounts for emissions under aerobic soil conditions.
Due to the great importance of the soil microbial community in N cycling in the soil, alterations in community composition and abundance can change the rate of N cycle processes (Cavigelli and Robertson, 2000). Hence, manipulating native soil microbial communities by chemical treatments or by inoculation with selected microorganisms can potentially alter N cycling in the soil. For example, adding nitrification inhibitors is a widely used method to reduce the rate of nitrification by inhibiting autotrophic NH3-oxidizing bacteria (Singh and Verma, 2007).
During the past few decades, there has been increased interest in the use of beneficial microbial inoculations to improve plant and soil functions. Several microorganisms, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), have been widely studied (Figueiredo et al., 2010). The PGPR stimulate plant growth through either a "biofertilizing" effect or a biocontrol effect. There is currently much interest in PGPR and other microbial-based inoculants specifically as alternatives to or supplements with fertilizers to improve the uptake of nutrients (Adesemoye et al., 2009, 2010; Canbolat et al., 2006; Idriss et al., 2002). Among the PGPR microorganisms, Bacillus spp. are widely used, mainly because they can survive as spores and can potentially alter the soil microbial composition. Bacillus spp. have a wide metabolic capability that allows them to play important roles in soil ecosystem functions and processes. Due to their heterotrophic nature, Bacillus spp. play an important role in the soil C cycle, soil N cycle, soil S cycle, and transformation of other soil nutrients (Mandic-Mulec and Prosser, 2011). Furthermore, they work as biocontrol agents due to the wide range of antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal compounds they produce, which can control pathogens and have an effect on other soil microorganisms (Chaabouni et al., 2012). Antibiotics are important metabolites that are produced by Bacillus spp. They not only can control pathogens but also confer a competitive advantage over other soil microorganisms (Stein, 2005).
Although the use of microbial-based inoculants is increasing, currently there is a lack of information about how these products affect N2O emissions from soils when N fertilizers are present.

Method of reducing nitrous oxide emissions from a plant growth substrate

The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of Agriculture


A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a black matrix layer. A sealant is put between the first and the second substrates and connecting them to define an enclosed space, and the liquid crystal layer is provided in the enclosed space. An overlap region is formed between the sealant and the first substrate or between the sealant and the second substrate, and only part of the overlap region is spread with the black matrix layer.

(a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel with high cell gap uniformity and a method for precisely controlling the cell gap of a liquid crystal display panel.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display panel commonly includes two insulating substrates placed opposite to each other with a predetermined cell gap in between. The cell gap uniformity of a liquid crystal display panel is a critical factor that affects display performance. If the cell gap at different locations of a panel is not identical, different regions of the panel may achieve their respective phase differences Δnd to result in Mura defect that considerably lowers display performance of a liquid crystal display, particularly a super-twisted nematic liquid crystal display (STN LCD) where an uneven cell gap is always accompanied by uneven display contrast.
Many factors may affect the uniformity of the cell gap of a display panel. For example, when driving electrodes wire outside the active areas of a panel, their distribution density is often not uniform because of a confined layout space. As the wiring density is not uniform, the spacers that control the cell gap thickness may provide different sustaining forces; hence, the region in which the spacers provide larger sustaining forces has a thicker cell gap while the region in which the spacers provide smaller sustaining forces has a thinner cell gap to result in an uneven cell gap of a display panel. Also, the accumulated tolerance of film thickness for laminated layers or various errors from fabrication processes may cause changes in surface flatness to result in an uneven cell gap.
Hence, there are many conventional designs disclosed to improve the cell gap uniformity of a display panel.
As shown in FIG. 1, a method for controlling a cell gap is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,659. Referring to FIG. 1, when upper and lower substrates 104 and 106 are thermally pressed and assembled together by a press means 102, a detector 108 measures the cell gap thickness at a position designated by a transparent hole 110, and than the detected value is fed to a controller 112 so as to adjust the applied force provided by the press means 102 until the cell gap uniformity is satisfied. However, such design requires an accurate optical instrument for dynamically measuring the cell gap thickness to thus significantly increase the cost. Besides, since only one panel is measured for cell gap thickness at a time according to such design, it is not suitable for mass production.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,787 discloses a method for adjusting cell gap during the assembly of two opposite substrates. Referring to FIG. 2, an elastic sheet 202 is provided under an adhesive sealant 204 for adjusting the gap thickness of the assembled upper and lower substrates 206 and 208. However, this method needs a special elastic sheet 202 that has specific surface roughness and fabrication precision and thus is complicated to make. This also increases the fabrication cost and is unfavorable for mass production.
Besides, U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,450 discloses a method for increasing cell gap uniformity by adjusting wiring density of transparent electrodes. As shown in FIG. 3, conventional terminals 304 extending from transparent electrodes 302 often have inclined wiring arrangement, so the transparent electrodes 302 have relatively low wiring density at their edge portions to affect the cell gap uniformity. Hence, according to this method, dummy electrodes 306 are additionally provided at low-wiring-density edge portions to improve the cell gap uniformity. However, this technique cures the uneven cell gap only as a result of uneven electrode wiring density but fails to solve that problem caused by other factors.

Liquid crystal panel with high cell gap uniformity and method for controlling cell gap thereof


Various types of memory circuits are described. A memory circuit may include a state-storage feedback loop coupled to a clock input and to a data input. The data input is introduced into the feedback loop at multiple points, and propagated in parallel from those points to other points in the feedback loop.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to electronic circuits, in particular memory circuits.
2. Related Art
In general, a memory circuit is a type of circuit whose output depends on both the input to the circuit and the circuit's previous state (the state prior to the input). A state-storage feedback loop included in a memory circuit allows a previous input, along with a current input, to affect the current output.
A memory circuit that can reduce the time needed to secure a new state in the feedback loop would be advantageous.

Multi-write memory circuit with a data input and a clock input


A gear is comprised of a central radial hub with a web radially extending therefrom and an independent radial gear-toothed rim, both of which are radially coupled by a stress dissipating resilient member attached thereto and being located in a plane parallel to that of said web. The resilient member is laterally supported by the adjacent web and the resilient member side walls are proximately parallel to the web side walls such that the resilient member is not located between the outer peripheral edge of the web and the inner peripheral edge of the rim. Furthermore, the present invention comprises a process by which such a stress dissipating gear is manufactured.

This invention relates generally to gears and specifically to gears having a central radial hub with a web radially extending therefrom and an independent radial gear-toothed rim, both of which are radially coupled by a stress dissipating resilient member attached thereto and being located in a plane parallel to that of the web.
The primary function of a gear is to transmit power from a power generating source to an adjacent operating device. This is achieved through the intermeshing and continuity of action between the teeth of a driving gear which is associated with the power source and the teeth of the mating gear which is associated with the operating device. Furthermore, since a gear is a rotating body, a state of dynamic equilibrium must be attained. To be in dynamic equilibrium, all of the reactions from the rotating gear must be neutralized by equal and opposite forces supporting the gear shaft.
Traditional gear design comprises a central hub, a web extending radially outward therefrom which is, in turn, peripherally bordered by an integral radial rim having geared teeth thereupon. Gear failure can occur if manufacturing tolerances, material type, and gear design are not matched to the service application. Furthermore, since gears have historically been manufactured from a single homogeneous material, the rigidity and strength of the web is greater than that of the hub and rim. Thus, torsional stresses created through start-up, shut-down or through cyclical fatigue are localized in the teeth and hub areas. As a result, gears typically fail at the root of the teeth or in the hub region. Such failures include excessive wear, plastic flow or creep, tooth bending fatigue, contact fatigue (pitting and spalling), thermal fatigue, tooth bending impact, tooth shear, tooth chipping, case crushing, torsional shear and stress ruptures. Many of these failures are due primarily to the cycling fatigue, start-up and shut-down rotational shock referenced above that is especially prevalent in gears that perform in non-constant rotation service applications.
An alternative gear design that has been used is a compliant gear having rigid hub, web, and rim members. However, a rubber-like insert or ring is located between the outer radial edge of the web and the inner radial edge of the rim. An example of this configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,307,129 entitled "Shock Proof Gear", issued to Hines et al. on Jan. 5, 1943. Although this rubber-like insert is supposed to dampen audible vibrations and somewhat reduce resultant stresses within the gear, under load the rim is capable of compressing one side of the rubber-like insert such that the rotational axis of the rim could become axially offset from the rotational axis of the hub. This misalignment can cause disengagement of the gear teeth of the compliant gear from those of its mating gear. In addition, gears having this type of rubber-like insert are subject to the rim torquing away from the hub in a direction normal to the radial centerline of the hub, web and rim. Under load this movement may cause misalignment of the mating gear teeth which will localize stresses upon distinct portions of each tooth. A similar design using elastomeric laminates with a shim therebetween is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,351 entitled "Compliant Gear", issued to Byrd on Jun. 23, 1987.
Another compliant gear configuration is disclosed in FIG. 8 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,267 entitled "Rotary Motion Transmitting Mechanism For Internal Combustion Engines And The Like", issued to Dolza on Nov. 9, 1965. That gear design contains a stamped cup-shaped hub which has an outward radially extending flange and a cushioning member fully attached to the side thereof. The rim of the gear has a generally L-shaped cross section with the radial inward leg being fully attached to the opposite side of the cushioning member. In that design there are gaps between the top of the cushioning member and the inside radial surface of the rim and also a gap between the radially inward surface of the cushioning member and the radially outward horizontal edge of the hub cup section. While the gear is designed to maintain angular torsional rigidity while having radial flexibility, under load the rim of the gear may become elliptical and thus encroach upon the gaps created above and below the cushioning member. Moreover, the rotational axis of the rim of that gear may also become offset from the rotational axis of the hub under working conditions.

Stress dissipation gear and method of making same