An inverted OLED device, comprising: a substrate; a cathode disposed on the substrate; an anode spaced from the cathode; at least one light-emitting layer disposed between the anode and the cathode; a hole-transporting layer disposed between the anode and the light-emitting layer(s); an electron-transporting layer disposed between the cathode and the light-emitting layer(s); a first electron-accepting layer disposed between the hole-transporting layer and the anode and including a first electron-deficient organic material constituting more than 50% by volume of the first electron-accepting layer and having a reduction potential greater than −0.5 V vs. a Saturated Calomel Electrode; and a second electron-accepting layer disposed between the electron-transporting layer and the cathode including a second electron-deficient organic material constituting more than 50% by volume of the second electron-accepting layer and having a reduction potential greater than −0.5 V vs. a Saturated Calomel Electrode.

An organic light-emitting diode device, also called an OLED, commonly includes an anode, a cathode, and an organic electroluminescent (EL) unit sandwiched between the anode and the cathode. The organic EL unit includes at least a hole-transporting layer (HTL), a light-emitting layer (LEL), and an electron-transporting layer (ETL). OLEDs are attractive because of their low drive voltage, high luminance, wide viewing-angle, and capability for full color displays and for other applications. Tang et al. described this multilayer OLED in their U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,769,292 and 4,885,211.
OLED devices are often constructed with the positive electrode or anode placed in contact with the substrate or support on which the OLED is constructed. This is known as normal or non-inverted OLED configuration. Low power consumption displays typically use an active matrix backplane where thin film transistors (TFT made of a-Si or LTPS) drive current to the OLED. In this case, the OLED stack is located at the source of the TFT, thus the anode of the OLED pixel is directly connected to the source of the driving TFT. Although this manufacturing process is much simpler, the circuit becomes dependent on the characteristics of the OLED materials. Any changes in the OLED voltage due to its aging behavior will affect both the voltage between the gate and the source (Vgs) and the current flowing through the driving TFT and OLED pixel (Ids). Alternately, if the OLED stack can be located at the drain of the drive TFT, changes in the OLED characteristics affects only the current (Ids) and not the voltage between gate and source (Vgs). But this requires an inverted OLED configuration where the cathode of the OLED is deposited first in order to connect the OLED cathode to the drain of the driving TFT. In the inverted OLED configuration, however, the deposition of organic layers must be reversed. Examples of inverted configuration are known in the art. Blochwitz et al. in U.S. Patent Application 2006/0033115, and Spindler et al. in Conference Record of the 26th International Display Research Conference, Society for Information Display, San Jose, Calif., 2006, pp. 51-54, describe some examples of inverted OLED structures. However, these devices have not performed very well due to poor or inadequate injection of holes and electrons at the anode and cathode interfaces, respectively. In particular, voltage rise over time can be very large in inverted structures. This produces difficulties in achieving desired luminance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,559 (Ueno et al.), disclose the use of certain electron-deficient organic materials in a standard structure OLED device, that is, the anode is adjacent to the substrate. The preferred embodiment and example use the electron-deficient material in a layer adjacent the cathode.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,573 (Son et al.), disclose the use of certain electron-deficient organic materials in a standard structure OLED device. In this case, the material is used in a layer adjacent the anode.
Both Ueno et al. and Son et al., allege improved lifetime and lower initial operating voltage relative to devices not having such layers.
The present invention calls for a combination of two electron-accepting layers using electron-deficient organic materials in an inverted structure, that is, the cathode is adjacent to the substrate. One electron-accepting layer is provided between the hole-transporting layer and the anode whereas the other is provided between the electron-transporting layer and the cathode. Applicant has found that this combination of features provides the unexpected advantage of reduced voltage rise over the operating life of the device. There is no teaching or suggestion in Ueno et al. or Son et al., alone or in combination, for the presently claimed invention. Neither patent recognized that our claimed combination was necessary to provide this unexpected result of reduced voltage rise over time.

Inverted OLED device with improved efficiency


In a method for manufacturing a monolithic ceramic electronic component, when an inner conductor is formed by printing an electrically conductive paste, a smear may be generated in an opening of the inner conductor at a side of the opening near to a position from which printing is started in a printing direction. The smear may cause an unwanted contact between the inner conductor and a via conductor, which is a conductor extending through the opening and having a potential different from that of the inner conductor, so as to cause a short-circuit. The inner conductor is printed such that the center of each via conductor is deviated from the center of the opening in the direction in which the electrically conductive paste is printed. With this structure, even if the smear is generated in the opening, the probability of a short-circuit is minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monolithic ceramic electronic component and a method for manufacturing the monolithic ceramic electronic component. In particular, the present invention relates to a monolithic ceramic electronic component including a ceramic body having inner conductors and via conductors, and to a method for manufacturing the monolithic ceramic electronic component.
2. Description of the Related Art
Regarding a power supply circuit, when a voltage fluctuation of a power line is increased due to an impedance of the power line or ground, operation of circuits driven by the power supply circuit may become unstable, the circuits may interfere with each other via the power supply circuit, or an oscillation may occur. To prevent this, a decoupling capacitor is usually connected between the power line and ground. The decoupling capacitor serves to reduce the impedance between the power line and ground, and to suppress fluctuation of a power supply voltage and interference between the circuits.
In recent years, high-speed signals have been used in communication equipment, such as mobile phones, and information processing equipment, such as personal computers, in order to handle a large amount of information, and clock frequencies of ICs used in such equipment have increased. Therefore, noise including a lot of harmonic content is easily generated, which necessitates more effective decoupling for an IC power supply circuit.
Using a decoupling capacitor with an excellent impedance frequency characteristic is effective for increasing a decoupling effect. A monolithic ceramic capacitor is an example of such a decoupling capacitor. Because a monolithic ceramic capacitor has a low ESL (equivalent series inductance), a monolithic ceramic capacitor has an excellent noise absorption characteristic across a frequency band wider than that of an electrolytic capacitor.
To increase a decoupling effect, disposing a decoupling capacitor as near as possible to power pins of an IC is also effective. This is because, when the distance between power pins of an IC and the decoupling capacitor is short, parasitic inductance of lines therebetween is low and the impedance of a power line becomes low.
FIGS. 16 to 18 show a monolithic ceramic capacitor 1 disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-203125, which is used here as an example of a conventional monolithic ceramic electronic component that is a related art. More specifically, FIG. 16 is a sectional front view of the monolithic ceramic capacitor 1, FIG. 17 is a sectional plan view taken along line XVII-XVII of FIG. 16, and FIG. 18 is a sectional plan view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 16.
The monolithic ceramic capacitor 1 includes a ceramic body 3 in which a plurality of ceramic layers 2 are stacked. First and second inner conductors 4 and 5 are disposed in the ceramic body 3 in such a manner that the first and second inner conductors 4 and 5 extend parallel to interfaces between the ceramic layers 2. The first and second inner conductors 4 and 5 are provided in pairs so that the first and second inner conductors are disposed opposite each other with a specific one of the ceramic layers 2 therebetween.
On a main surface of the ceramic body 3, first and second outer terminal electrodes 6 and 7 are alternately formed in a matrix pattern. Likewise, on the other main surface of the ceramic body 3, the first and second outer terminal electrodes 6 and 7 are alternately formed in a matrix pattern.
First via conductors 8 and second via conductors 9 are formed in the ceramic body 3 in such a manner that the first and second via conductors 8 and 9 extend in the stack direction of the ceramic layers 2. The first via conductors 8 are electrically connected to the first inner conductors 4 and the first outer terminal electrodes 6. The first via conductors 8 are electrically isolated from the second inner conductors 5. The second via conductors 9 are electrically connected to the second inner conductors 5 and the second outer terminal electrodes 7. The second via conductors 9 are electrically isolated from the first inner conductors 4.
The monolithic ceramic capacitor 1 has a low ESL because the first and second via conductors 8 and 9 are alternately disposed so that magnetic fields generated around the first and second via conductors 8 and 9 cancel each other out. Moreover, because the first and second outer terminal electrodes 6 and 7 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the ceramic body 3, the monolithic ceramic capacitor 1 can be easily mounted on the bottom surface of an IC (not shown), and the distance between the monolithic ceramic capacitor 1 and the IC can be made short.
As described above, in the monolithic ceramic capacitor 1, the first via conductors 8, which have a potential different from that of the second inner conductors 5, are electrically isolated from the second inner conductors 5, and the second via conductors 9, which have a potential different from that of the first inner conductors 4, are electrically isolated from the first inner conductors 4. For this isolation, the first inner conductors 4 have openings 10 through which the second via conductors 9, which have a potential different from that of the first inner conductors 4, extend. The second inner conductors 5 have openings 11 through which first via conductors 8, which have a potential different from that of the second inner conductors 5, extend. The first and second via conductors 8 and 9 respectively extend through the centers of the openings 11 and 10.
The first and second inner conductors 4 and 5 are formed by printing an electrically conductive paste on ceramic green sheets that will become the ceramic layers 2 by a printing method such as screen printing. However, as shown in FIG. 19, when the electrically conductive paste 12 is printed, a smear 14 may be generated in the opening 10 or 11 of the first or second inner conductor 4 or 5 at a side of the opening near to a position from which printing is started in the printing direction 13 by the printing method. If the smear 14 is large, the first or second inner conductor 4 or 5 may contact the first or second via conductor 9 or 8 having a different potential and cause a short-circuit.
As described above, screen printing is an example of a printing method that may generate a smear. As long as an electrically conductive paste is used, other printing methods, such as a gravure printing method, may have a similar problem.

Monolithic ceramic electronic component and method for manufacturing the same


Provided herein are solid forms, salts, and formulations of 3-((1R,3R)-1-(2,6-difluoro-4-((1-(3-fluoropropyl)azetidin-3-yl)amino)phenyl)-3-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-2H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-2-yl)-2,2-difluoropropan-1-ol, processes and synthesis thereof, and methods of their use in the treatment of cancer.

Fused tricyclic compounds comprising a substituted phenyl or pyridinyl moiety within the scope of the present disclosure are useful as estrogen receptor ("ER") targeting agents.
The ER is a ligand-activated transcriptional regulatory protein that mediates induction of a variety of biological effects through its interaction with endogenous estrogens. Endogenous estrogens include 17β (beta)-estradiol and estrones. ER has been found to have two isoforms, ER-α (alpha) and ER-β (beta). Estrogens and estrogen receptors are implicated in a number of diseases or conditions, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, uterine cancer, as well as others diseases or conditions. ER-α targeting agents have particular activity in the setting of metastatic disease and acquired resistance. ER-α targeting agents are disclosed in U.S. Publication Number 2016/0175289.
Useful processes for preparing fused tricyclic compounds comprising a substituted phenyl or pyridinyl moiety are disclosed in U.S. Publication Number 2016/0175289. However, there is a need for improved processes for preparing ER-α targeting agents.
There exists significant complexity surrounding the identification and selection of a solid form of a pharmaceutical compound. The differences in solid forms of such compounds affects both physical and chemical properties and may alter the processing, stability, bioavailability, formulation, and storage of pharmaceutical compounds. There is no reliable predictability of the solid form and its usefulness as a crystalline solid or amorphous solid. Crystalline solids may be considered useful, for example, for physical or chemical stability whereas amorphous solids may be considered useful, for example, for enhanced dissolution and increased bioavailability.
Mixtures of crystalline materials arises from polymorphism. It is not possible to predict, a priori, if crystalline forms of a compound exist, much less whether crystalline forms can be prepared or isolated. Jones et al., 2006, Pharmaceutical Cocrystals: An Emerging Approach to Physical Property Enhancement," MRS Bulletin 31:875-879 (At present it is not generally possible to computationally predict the number of observable polymorphs of even the simplest molecules). The number of possible solid forms results in differing chemical and physical properties for a pharmaceutical compound and can greatly affect development, stability, and marketing of the product.
The estrogen receptor ("ER") is a ligand-activated transcriptional regulatory protein that mediates induction of a variety of biological effects through its interaction with endogenous estrogens. Endogenous estrogens include 17β (beta)-estradiol and estrones. ER has been found to have two isoforms, ER-α (alpha) and ER-β (beta). Estrogens and estrogen receptors are implicated in a number of diseases or conditions, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, uterine cancer, as well as others diseases or conditions. There is a need for new ER-α targeting agents that have activity in the setting of metastatic disease and acquired resistance. Accordingly, there remains a need for cancer therapies having particular solid forms.

Solid forms of 3-((1R,3R)-1-(2,6-difluoro-4-((1-(3- fluoropropyl)azetidin-3-yl)amino)phenyl)-3-methyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-2H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-2-yl)-2,2-difluoropropan-1-ol and processes for preparing fused tricyclic compounds comprising a substituted phenyl or pyridinyl moiety, including methods of their use


The present invention provides a method for the synthesis of nanowires in a silicon nanoporous template by electrodeposition and a novel technique for the integration of nanowires to transduction surfaces. In accordance with the present invention, a method for the fabrication of nanowire interconnects is provided. The method includes the steps of fabricating substantially vertical nanowires in a selectively passivated nanoporous silicon template, backetching the silicon template to expose the nanowires, eutectically bonding the exposed nanowires to a receiving silicon wafer, and etching the silicon template to produce substantially freestanding nanowire interconnects in contact with the receiving silicon wafer.

Sensors based on metallic nanowires, nanorods and nanoparticles are increasingly being investigated because of unique electronic, optical, biological and magnetic sensing properties that these nanostructures offer. These properties aid in the development of reliable, improved and fast detection techniques for sensors. Templated synthesis of these nanostructures through plating techniques is increasingly being accepted as an elegant alternative to sophisticated methods such as molecular beam epitaxy and e-beam lithography. The advantages of the template method as known in the art are: (a) batch fabrication ability (b) accurate control of the diameter of the pores through controlled pore growth, (c) control of the pore morphology and (d) control of composition through plating solutions.
It is generally known in the art to synthesize nanowires using electroplating, which is generally done by plating the desired material within cylindrical or monodispersed pores in nanoporous templates. Materials known in the art for use as nanoporous templates include alumite membranes (anodized aluminum films) or track-etched polymer membranes (polycarbonate) or mesoporous silica. Also known in the art is deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) of silicon to realize vertical interconnects. These methods of nanowire synthesis as known in the art have provided nanowires and through-wafer vertical interconnects with aspect ratios (height:width) at a maximum of 10:1. However, higher aspect ratios are required to realize the high-density circuits useful in MEMS/NEMS devices.
Advancements in the field of System-On-Chip (SoC) and 3-D integrated circuits demands an efficient and optimized interconnect scheme. Stray effects are minimized when the electronic circuitry is in close proximity to the transducer. Designing an interconnect scheme to obtain high a fill factor and low loss calls for a vertical interconnect strategy. As devices continue to be scaled down, the contact pad area also shrinks requiring further reductions in the interconnect dimensions.
Synthesized nanowires are used to provide improved packaging and interconnect schemes for integrated circuits and sensors. In particular, the fabrication of through-wafer nanowires to provide vertical interconnects in 3D devices provides for the realization of high-density circuits and systems. High-density arrays of vertical interconnects are of great interest in MEMS/NEMS packaging.
In addition to the use of nanowires for packaging, a major impediment in using nanowires for field deployable systems has been the difficulty inherent in handling the nanowires and functionalization of the sensing elements with nanowires. Fundamentally, fabricating sensing nanowires is a two-step process where (1) the nanowires are bound to the transductor surface and (2) the nanowires are functionalized for the target of interest. These steps may be performed in any order and non-specific binding of wires to targets is a major issue of concern in this process.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an improved method for the synthesis and assembly of ultra-high aspect ratio metallic nanowires to be deployed as interconnects and sensing elements thereby providing a generic, high density, reconfigurable and low cost alternative to conventional packaging schemes.

Method for the assembly of nanowire interconnects


An apparatus for controlling acid-rock reaction includes a first reactor, a second reactor connected to the first reactor and configured to produce a spent acid through reaction of a rock with an acid aqueous solution and to introduce the spent acid into the first reactor, the first reactor being configured to react a rock disk with the spent acid introduced from the second reactor, a sample extractor connected to the first reactor and configured to extract, from the first reactor, a predetermined amount of the spent acid reacting with the rock disk in the first reactor, and a data acquisition device configured to acquire temperature and pressure data of the first reactor and the second reactor and control the first reactor and the second reactor based on he acquired temperature and pressure data of the first reactor and the second reactor.

The global distribution of carbonate reservoirs is estimated to exceed the 60% of oil and 40% of gas reserves in the world, and in particular, more than 70% of the oil reservoirs in the Middle East are held in carbonate reservoirs. However, it is known that the carbonate reservoirs are difficult to be characterized due to the heterogeneous nature and complexity of geo-tectonics, and also, if such difficulty is not considered in the field, reliability and effect of stimulation techniques might be degraded.
In general, matrix acidizing from among various stimulation techniques is widely used in order to enhance oil recovery of a carbonate reservoir. The matrix acidizing refers to a method that enhances productivity by injecting an acid into a reservoir and creating highly conductive channels that are known as wormholes. The success of the matrix acidizing depends on a shape of the wormhole such as length, diameter, distribution, etc., and the shape of the wormhole may depend on acid-rock reaction characteristics. In this case, a dissolution rate and a diffusion coefficient are used as very important parameters to analyze acid-rock reaction characteristics.
In order to decide an appropriate injection condition when designing an acidizing process for a specific target reservoir in future, analysis of acid-rock reaction characteristics should be performed to enhance the efficiency of acidizing.
However, the commercial apparatuses do not consider high temperature and pressure as experimental conditions to practically implement a flow of an acid in a reservoir, and as the wormhole extends deeper into the formation, the front of the wormhole is further reacted with spent acid, which is a partially reacted acid with reaction products such as calcium and magnesium ions during the acid-rock reaction. Therefore, there is a demand for development of an apparatus for measuring acid-rock reaction characteristics considering an effect of a spent acid in the reservoir condition.

Rotating apparatus and method for measuring acid-rock reaction characteristics in high temperature and pressure

INDUSTRY FOUNDATION OF CHONNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY


According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a data acquisition unit, an image generation unit, a calculation unit, a determination unit and a measurement unit. The data acquisition unit acquires a plurality of ultrasonic data. The image generation unit generates a plurality of ultrasonic images by using the plurality of ultrasonic data. The calculation unit calculates a feature amount for determining a shift between the two-dimensional section and a central axis of a target blood vessel. The determination unit determines an optimal image from the plurality of ultrasonic images based on the feature amount. The measurement unit measures an intima-media thickness of the target blood vessel by using the optimal image.

Consider, for example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus or the like which is used to perform diagnosis or the like to evaluate the IMT (Intima-Media Thickness) of the blood vessel.
Medical image diagnosis is to visually perform diagnosis by observing the medical images acquired and displayed by a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, X-ray computed tomography apparatus, magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, X-ray diagnostic apparatus, or nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus. For example, ultrasonic image diagnosis is to visually diagnose a tumor or the like by observing the ultrasonic images acquired and displayed by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In this case, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is designed to acquire biological information by transmitting the ultrasonic pulses generated from the transducers provided in an ultrasonic probe into the body of an object and receiving the reflected ultrasonic waves generated by acoustic impedance differences in the object tissue via the transducers. This apparatus can display image data in real time by the simple operation of bringing the ultrasonic probe into contact with the surface of the body, and hence is widely used for morphological diagnosis and functional diagnosis of various organs.
Recently, diagnosis to evaluate the IMT of the blood vessel has been performed by using, for example, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In general, this diagnosis is executed in the following manner. First of all, the operator finely adjusts the probe to make a two-dimensional section (ultrasonic scan plane) to be ultrasonically scanned pass over the central axis of a blood vessel to be diagnosed (target blood vessel) while observing the image obtained by ultrasonically scanning the two-dimensional section including the target blood vessel, and stores a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of phases in a cine memory. The operator then selects an image optimal for IMT measurement from the stored images by visual check or the like, and sets a region of interest. This apparatus automatically or manually calculates an IMT based on the set region of interest. When considering the influence of the pulsation of the heart, the operator selects a plurality of images corresponding to the same phase by using ECG waveforms and the like, and then selects an image optimal for optimal IMT measurement.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, medical image diagnostic apparatus, and medical image processing method


A method and device for measuring an amount of wear on a flank of a gear tooth is provided. The method includes positioning a template comprising a first template tooth adjacent a gear comprising a first gear tooth. The method also includes adjusting the position of the template in a rotational direction with respect to a known rotational reference point of the gear, adjusting the position of the template in an axial direction with respect to a known axial reference point of the gear, and adjusting the position of the template in a radial direction with respect to a known radial reference point of the gear. The method further includes measuring an extent of a gap between an edge of the first template tooth and an adjacent flank of the first gear tooth, wherein the gap corresponds to the amount of wear on the flank.

At least some known wind turbines include a rotor having multiple blades. The rotor blades are sometimes coupled to a hub that is in turn coupled to a housing, or nacelle. The nacelle is positioned on top of a base, for example, a truss or tubular tower. The rotor blades transform mechanical wind energy into induced blade lift forces that further induce a mechanical rotational torque. The induced torque is used to drive one or more generators, subsequently generating electric power, or alternatively to pump a fluid and/or grind a substance.
At least some known wind turbines have a mechanism to adjust a pitch angle of each rotor blade. The pitch angle is an angle that determines each of the blades' orientation about a longitudinal axis of the blade. At least some known pitch adjustment mechanisms include a pitch motor operating a pinion gear that acts on a ring gear coupled to the blade.
In at least some known wind turbines, a plurality of teeth of the ring gear may become worn over time, decreasing an efficiency and reliability of the pitch adjustment mechanism. Moreover, an extent of such gear tooth wear is difficult to quantify. Templates are known that may be inserted between the flanks of adjacent gear teeth, allowing a wear of the gear teeth to be estimated by comparing a distance between the adjacent flanks to a known template width. However, such known templates provide only an estimation of a combined wear on both flanks of the two adjacent teeth, rather than a measurement of the wear on an individual tooth flank. Moreover, such known templates do not provide a repeatable measurement at a consistent location on each tooth flank that may be used to compare wear between two different times for a given gear tooth, between one gear tooth and another gear tooth on the same gear, or between gear teeth on similar gears associated with different blades or different wind turbines. Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a method and/or a system that facilitates a repeatable and reliable measurement of the wear at a consistent location on each flank of each gear tooth.

Method and device for measuring gear tooth wear


A picture information converting apparatus for generating an output picture signal with a different scanning line structure from an input picture signal is disclosed, that comprises a first picture data selecting means for selecting adjacent pixels with a predetermined relation of positions to a plurality of considered points with a different relation of positions to scanning lines of the input picture signal, a spatial class detecting means for detecting a pattern of a level distribution from picture data selected by said first picture data selecting means and determining spacial class values that represent spatial classes of the considered points corresponding to the detected pattern, a second picture data selecting means for selecting the considered points and adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from the input picture signal, a calculating process means for performing a calculating process for predicting and generating pixels at positions with a predetermined relation of positions to the considered points corresponding to the picture data obtained by said second picture data selecting means, a storing means for storing predetermined predictive coefficient data used in the calculating process of said calculating process means, and a class value converting means for performing a class value converting process for a first class value with a relation of positions to the considered points and the input picture signal and generating a second class value corresponding to the predictive coefficient data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a picture information converting apparatus, a picture information converting method, and a television receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
To obtain an output picture signal with higher resolution than an input picture signal, a picture information converting process for generating an output scanning line structure with a scanning line structure different from an input picture signal has been proposed. In the picture information converting process, classes are categorized corresponding to a three-dimensional (time-space) distribution of signal levels of the input picture signal. With reference to the obtained class values, pixels are predicted and generated. In such a process, it is more difficult to predict and generate pixels at positions of scanning lines of the input picture signal than pixels at other positions thereof.
Thus, when more classes are assigned to non-scanning-line positions of the input picture signal and pixels are more accurately predicted and generated, a memory that stores data predicted and generated in the class categorizing process can be more effectively used.
However, as the number of classes becomes large, the storage capacity of the memory becomes large. Since the storage capacity of the memory of a real apparatus is restricted, it is necessary to decrease the number of classes.
An object of the present invention is to provide a picture information converting apparatus, a picture information converting method, and a television receiver that allow a proper number of classes to be assigned corresponding to the relation of positions of pixels predicted and generated and positions of scanning lines of an input picture signal, conditions such as the storage capacity of a memory disposed in the apparatus, and so forth.
A first aspect of the present invention is a picture information converting apparatus for generating an output picture signal with a different scanning line structure from an input picture signal, comprising a first picture data selecting means for selecting adjacent pixels with a predetermined relation of positions to a plurality of considered points with a different relation of positions to scanning lines of the input picture signal, a spatial class detecting means for detecting a pattern of a level distribution from picture data selected by said first picture data selecting means and determining spacial class values that represent spatial classes of the considered points corresponding to the detected pattern, a second picture data selecting means for selecting the considered points and adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from the input picture signal, a calculating process means for performing a calculating process for predicting and generating pixels at positions with a predetermined relation of positions to the considered points corresponding to the picture data obtained by said second picture data selecting means, a storing means for storing predetermined predictive coefficient data used in the calculating process of said calculating process means, and a class value converting means for performing a class value converting process for a first class value with a relation of positions to the considered points and the input picture signal and generating a second class value corresponding to the predictive coefficient data.
A second aspect of the present invention is a picture information converting apparatus for generating an output picture signal with a different scanning line structure from an input picture signal, comprising a first picture data selecting means for selecting adjacent pixels with a predetermined relation of positions to a plurality of considered points with a different relation of positions to scanning lines of the input picture signal, a spatial class detecting means for detecting a pattern of a level distribution from picture data selected by said first picture data selecting means and determining spacial class values that represent spatial classes of the considered points corresponding to the detected pattern, a second picture data selecting means for selecting adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from a plurality of frames of the input picture signal, a motion class detecting means for calculating the sum of the absolute values of frame differences with the picture data selected by said second picture data selecting means and determining motion class values corresponding to the calculated result, the motion class values representing motions, a class combining means for combining the spatial class values and the motion class values so as to generate a first class value, a third picture data selecting means for selecting the considered points and adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from the input picture signal, a calculating process means for performing a calculating process for predicting and generating pixels at positions with a predetermined relation of positions to the considered points corresponding to the picture data obtained by said third picture data selecting means, a storing means for storing predetermined predictive coefficient data used in the calculating process of said calculating process means, and a class value converting means for performing a class value converting process for the first class value with a relation of positions to the considered points and the input picture signal and generating a second class value corresponding to the predictive coefficient data.
A third aspect of the present invention is a picture information converting method for generating an output picture signal with a different scanning line structure from an input picture signal, comprising the steps of (a) selecting adjacent pixels with a predetermined relation of positions to a plurality of considered points with a different relation of positions to scanning lines of the input picture signal, (b) detecting a pattern of a level distribution from picture data selected at step (a) and determining spacial class values that represent spatial classes of the considered points corresponding to the detected pattern, (c) selecting the considered points and adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from the input picture signal, (d) performing a calculating process for predicting and generating pixels at positions with a predetermined relation of positions to the considered points corresponding to the picture data obtained at step (c), (e) storing predetermined predictive coefficient data used in the calculating process of step (d), and (f) performing a class value converting process for a first class value with a relation of positions to the considered points and the input picture signal and generating a second class value corresponding to the predictive coefficient data.
A forth aspect of the present invention is a picture information converting method for generating an output picture signal with a different scanning line structure from an input picture signal, comprising the steps of (a) selecting adjacent pixels with a predetermined relation of positions to a plurality of considered points with a different relation of positions to scanning lines of the input picture signal, (b) detecting a pattern of a level distribution from picture data selected at step (a) and determining spacial class values that represent spatial classes of the considered points corresponding to the detected pattern, (c) selecting adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from a plurality of frames of the input picture signal, (d) calculating the sum of the absolute values of frame differences with the picture data selected at step (c) and determining motion class values corresponding to the calculated result, the motion class values representing motions, (e) combining the spatial class values and the motion class values so as to generate a first class value, (f) selecting the considered points and adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from the input picture signal, (g) performing a calculating process for predicting and generating pixels at positions with a predetermined relation of positions to the considered points corresponding to the picture data obtained at step (f), (h) storing predetermined predictive coefficient data used in the calculating process of step (g), and (i) performing a class value converting process for the first class value with a relation of positions to the considered points and the input picture signal and generating a second class value corresponding to the predictive coefficient data.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a television receiver for generating an output picture signal with a different scanning line structure from an input picture signal, comprising a first picture data selecting means for selecting adjacent pixels with a predetermined relation of positions to a plurality of considered points with a different relation of positions to scanning lines of the input picture signal, a spatial class detecting means for detecting a pattern of a level distribution from picture data selected by said first picture data selecting means and determining spacial class values that represent spatial classes of the considered points corresponding to the detected pattern, a second picture data selecting means for selecting the considered points and adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from the input picture signal, a calculating process means for performing a calculating process for predicting and generating pixels at positions with a predetermined relation of positions to the considered points corresponding to the picture data obtained by said second picture data selecting means, a storing means for storing predetermined predictive coefficient data used In the calculating process of said calculating process means, and a class value converting means for performing a class value converting process for a first class value with a relation of positions to the considered points and the Input picture signal and generating a second class value corresponding to the predictive coefficient data.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is a television receiver for generating an output picture signal with a different scanning line structure from an input picture signal, comprising a first picture data selecting means for selecting adjacent pixels with a predetermined relation of positions to a plurality of considered points with a different relation of positions to scanning lines of the input picture signal, a spatial class detecting means for detecting a pattern of a level distribution from picture data selected by said first picture data selecting means and determining spacial class values that represent spatial classes of the considered points corresponding to the detected pattern, a second picture data selecting means for selecting adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from a plurality of frames of the input picture signal, a motion class detecting means for calculating the sum of the absolute values of frame differences with the picture data selected by said second picture data selecting means and determining motion class values corresponding to the calculated result, the motion class values representing motions, a class combining means for combining the spatial class values and the motion class values so as to generate a first class value, a third picture data selecting means for selecting the considered points and adjacent pixels with the predetermined relation of positions to the considered points from the input picture signal, a calculating process means for performing a calculating process for predicting and generating pixels at positions with a predetermined relation of positions to the considered points corresponding to the picture data obtained by said third picture data selecting means, a storing means for storing predetermined predictive coefficient data used in the calculating process of said calculating process means, and a class value converting means for performing a class value converting process for the first class value with a relation of positions to the considered points and the input picture signal and generating a second class value corresponding to the predictive coefficient data.
According to the present invention, the number of classes for each of considered points (pixels) is properly assigned corresponding to a relation that represents whether or not each considered point is present at a position on a scanning line of an input picture signal or corresponding to a condition such as the storage capacity of a memory of the apparatus.
As prior art references of the present invention, the following patent application was filed by the applicant of the present invention and the following U.S. Patent was granted thereto.
(1) Japanese Patent Application No. H09-115437 (U.S. patent application corresponding thereto is now pending),
(2) Japanese Patent Application No. H10-228221 (U.S. patent application corresponding thereto is now pending), and
(3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,990

Picture information converting apparatus, picture information converting method, and television receiver


A costing system. The costing system includes a costing model and a costing engine. The costing model records parent-child relationships between a plurality of stages of a production line, and at least one valuation type for each stage. The costing engine retrieves a group of valuation type combinations corresponding to the parent stages of the target stage from the costing model, and combines the target valuation type corresponding to the target stage with valuation type combinations corresponding to the parent stages, thereby generating a cost identification, and costing results accordingly.

The present invention relates to a costing system and method, and particularly to a costing system and method utilizing a model providing multiple costs for a single production part.
In current use, companies endeavor to reduce production costs and strengthen competitive ability. In addition to cost management of materials and manpower, cost valuation of the production is also a significant base of corporate quotation and pricing, such that a precise costing system is critical. Without an accurate costing model for the costing system, costing and pricing results cannot reflect real margins and benefits.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional costing model, including three stages X, Y and Z, having respective operating costs. Parent-child relationships between these stages must be defined in the costing system in advance. In the example, stage X is the parent stage for stage Y, stage Y is the parent stage for stage Z, and each product is processed from stage X to stage Z. The cost of part X (semi-finished goods) (CX) is the operating cost for stage X, the cost of part Y (CY) is the sum of the operating costs for stage Y and its parent cost (CX), and the cost of part Z (CZ) is the sum of the operating costs for stage Z and its parent cost (CY).
However, for some specific industries, such as semiconductor industry, there are more complicated business requirements and models therein. One business model of the semiconductor industry is "build to order", in which the IC (Integrated Circuit) foundry must fabricate products of different designs and processes, and according to specific client requirements. For example, semiconductor products may be processed through three process stages of wafer fabrication, testing, and packing. In one case, clients may request the IC foundry to manufacture their product designs without any further conditions, such that the IC foundry fabricates wafers according to client product design, tests the wafers, and divides and packs the wafers to IC products internally or by subcontracting. In another case, the clients may only ask the IC foundry to perform the testing or other process stages. The workpiece can, accordingly, be received at any stage, be partially or fully finished goods, and fabricated internally or outsourced. Production costs differ according to various production conditions, and thus, conventional costing models with one cost for a single production part cannot provide precise costing analysis to fulfill business requirements for companies with complicated business models.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A board game apparatus is provided, wherein utilizing a die member, tokens associated with each player are directed about a continuous game path, with the game path arranged to assimilate trials and experiences relative to life relative to alcohol, drugs, and the like and provide for direction relative to expenses regarding school, family expenses, etc. A player is awarded an initial dollar total, with movement about the game path requiring receiving and spending of various dollar amounts.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to board game apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved board game apparatus wherein the same is arranged to simulate experiences and trials relative to life experiences for educational and entertainment purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Board games of various types have been available in the prior art to simulate various experiences such as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,650 arranged to simulate experiences in a collegiate social life style.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,281 to Turner sets forth a board game utilizing various monetary awards or penalties and various chance spaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,934 to Taylor sets forth a further game apparatus for simulating life experiences utilizing various shortcuts arranged within the game path.
As such, it may be appreciated there continues to be a need for a new and improved game board apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction in providing individual players with various experiences to simulate the broad range of life-style experiences and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends, there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for pulling single crystal by Czochralski (CZ) method (a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller) equipped with a cooler for cooling a pulled single crystal.
Further, the present invention relates to a CZ single crystal puller which is equipped with a cooler for cooling a pulled single crystal and which can smoothly eliminate dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by means of the Dash's neck method.
The present invention also relates to a CZ single crystal puller which is equipped with a cooler for cooling a pulled single crystal and which can smoothly perform recharging and additional charging operations.
The present invention further relates to a CZ single crystal puller which is equipped with a cooler for cooling a pulled single crystal and a safety mechanism for avoiding hazard, which would result from installation of the cooler.
The present invention further relates to a technique for optimizing requirements for manufacturing a silicon wafer to be produced by the Czochralski (CZ) method.
2. Related Art
As a CZ single crystal puller which pulls a single crystal by means of the Czochralski (CZ) method, a CZ single crystal puller equipped with a cooler to be disposed in a CZ furnace (hereinafter often called a "furnace cooler") for cooling a pulled single crystal has recently been employed. Use of such a CZ single crystal puller equipped with a furnace cooler enables a considerable increase in a single-crystal pull rate. Consequently, efficiency in production of a single crystal ingot or wafer can be increased. Hence, the CZ single crystal puller equipped with a furnace cooler is of great significance.
Studies conducted by the present inventors showed that presence of a cooler poses difficulty in eliminating dislocations from a silicon seed crystal when an attempt is made to eliminate dislocations (primarily dislocations induced by thermal shock when a seed crystal is immersed in a melt) from a silicon seed crystal through use of the Dash's neck method (W. Dash: Journal of Applied Physics 30 (1959) pg. 459).
The present invention has been conceived in light of the foregoing drawbacks, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a CZ single crystal puller which is equipped with a cooler to be disposed in a CZ furnace and which can smoothly eliminate dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by means of the Dash's neck method.
In addition to the furnace cooler, a thermal insulation shield or a like member for shielding heat radiating from a heater or a melt is often disposed within the CZ furnace in order to optimize requirements for pulling a single crystal.
At the time of pulling of a single crystal through use of the CZ method, material is additionally charged or recharged in order to produce a single crystal of maximum size during a single process.
However, members to be disposed within a furnace (hereinafter often called "furnace members"); particularly, the cooler and the thermal insulation shield, hinder additional charge or recharge of material. Great attention must be paid to a problem of melt splashes; particularly, during additional charge or recharge of material, rather than during initial charge of material. When a cooler is disposed near a crucible, heating must be effected so as to overcome the cooling effect of the cooler at the time of charge of material. Hence, the amount of energy dissipation is increased.
The present invention has been conceived in view of the above-described drawbacks, and a second object of the present invention is to provide a CZ single crystal puller which is equipped with a cooler and a thermal-insulation shield, both being provided in a CZ furnace, and which can smoothly perform additional charge or recharge of material.
In connection with a CZ single crystal puller which pulls a single crystal by means of the Czochralski (CZ) method, there have already been put forward various types of coolers to be disposed in a CZ furnace of the CZ single crystal puller. One of the proposed coolers moves within the CZ furnace (as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 92272/1999). There is room for improving such a furnace cooler.
The present invention has been conceived in view of the drawback set forth, and a third object of the present invention is to provide a CZ single crystal puller having a cooler which is to be disposed in a CZ furnace and has improved functionality.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a CZ single crystal puller which has a cooler moving within a CZ furnace and a safety mechanism, wherein the cooler located within the CZ furnace immediately avoids hazards by means of appropriately detecting potential collision with other furnace members.
In connection with a silicon wafer produced by means of the CZ method for use in manufacturing semiconductor devices, crystalline imperfections which deteriorate the quality of a device are present in the surface layer of a silicon wafer that is simply sliced off from a silicon ingot. As the silicon wafer is subjected to intense heat treatment (i.e., annealing), voids existing in the surface layer of a wafer disappear. For example, it has been known that voids—which Are detected as, for example, LSTDs, FPDs, or COPs, and exist in the surface layer of a CZ silicon wafer having been subjected to hydrogen heat treatment (hydrogen annealing)—disappear and as a result the wafer exhibits a superior oxide film withstand-pressure characteristic (as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 80338/1991).
However, the effect of hydrogen annealing is limited to solely the area in the vicinity of the uppermost surface of a silicon wafer. In this regard, the present inventors found that the rate at or depth to which defects located in the vicinity of the surface layer of a wafer are eliminated by means of high-temperature annealing substantially depends on the sizes of initial defects. The present inventors have proposed a method of expanding a defect-free area from the surface layer of a wafer to a comparatively deep position in the wafer, by means of increasing a cooling rate of crystal being grown within a temperature zone in which defects are apt to arise (as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 208987/1998), controlling a V/G (V denotes a pull rate, and G denotes a temperature gradient along the crystallographic axis and in the vicinity of a melting point), or controlling the diameter of an OSF ring (as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 154095/2000), thus miniaturizing size of defects in a crystal.
So long as a rate at which a crystal is to be pulled (hereinafter called simply a "crystal pull rate") is increased, the method enables miniaturization of defects of a growing crystal to a size at which the defects are apt to disappear by means of annealing. Further, if the pull rate is increased, the volume of silicon ingot produced per unit time is eventually increased, thus improving the production efficiency of a wafer.
If a crystal can be pulled faster than what has been expected thus far, the production efficiency of wafers of all types can be improved to a much greater extent, regardless of whether the wafer is to be used for epitaxial growth or annealing purpose.
In a case where a crystal pull rate is increased, if miniaturization of crystalline imperfections becomes possible at least without a crystal being adversely affected by an increase in pull rate, crystalline imperfections can be miniaturized at a high pull rate. Particularly, if an increase in pull rate and miniaturization of crystalline imperfections can be attained simultaneously, immediate production of a wafer for annealing purpose (i.e., from which crystalline imperfections are likely to disappear and which is suitable for undergoing annealing) can be attained.
The present invention has been conceived in view of the drawbacks of the related art set forth, and a fifth object of the present invention is to improve production efficiency of wafers of all types, regardless of whether or not the wafers are to be used for epitaxial growth or annealing purpose, by means of increasing the crystal pull rate.
A sixth object of the present invention is to simultaneous realization of miniaturization of crystalline imperfections to a size smaller than has been expected thus far and an increased pull rate, thereby improving the production efficiency of a wafer for annealing purpose.

Apparatus for pulling single crystal by CZ method


The present invention concerns a device for feeding a stack of flat articles on edge, especially mail items, to a de-stacker head provided with a support surface, the device comprising a main feed magazine in which the stack is disposed and a plate pushing the rear of the stack. A secondary feed magazine is introduced between the main magazine and the support surface of the de-stacker head, the secondary magazine having an upwardly inclined transfer surface, its edge adjacent to the support surface of the de-stacker head being higher than the latter.

In order to obtain good functioning of a de-stacker, it is essential that the feed device with which it is associated ensures proper presentation of the mail.
Several technical problems arise in the region of the de-stacker head.
Firstly, the incidence of damaged or torn articles should be minimized; in particular, the de-stacking of open mail in the nature of sheets folded into several flaps or small publicity or other brochures is especially subject to de-stacking problems, the conventional frictional anti-double-feed systems lead to creasing up or tearing of the mail items.
Secondly, the flow rate, i.e. the number of mail items treated per hour of operation should be maximized.
Thirdly, the incidence of multiple feeds occasioned by failure of mail items to separate should be minimized.
Fourthly, the dispersion in the frequency of injection into the sorting system should be optimized; more particularly, in the case of injection with spaces between mail items, it is necessary to take account of the repetition rate of the spaces between items (distance between trailing edge and leading edge) or the pitch (distance between leading edge and leading edge) and to respect a minimum spacing which is a value set by the performance of the sorting machine; in the case of injection with shingled items, it is necessary to take account of the repetition rate of the overlap value.
Moreover the known feeding devices are either of small capacity or compartmented, which makes loading the mail difficult and leads to a long loading time and thus to reduction in efficiency.

Device for feeding a stack of flat articles on edge to de-stacker head of an automatic sorting machine and a method of operating this device

Compagnie Generale d'Automatisme CGA-HBS


A horizontal computer mounting arrangement includes a case having a bottom panel defining motherboard mounting area and a borderland area, a motherboard mounted in the case corresponding to the motherboard mounting area, an adapter vertically inserted into one vertical slot of the motherboard and having a plurality of horizontal slots for receiving a variety of computer interface cards above the borderland area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the arrangement of a computer case and more particularly, to the arrangement of a computer case for horizontal computer.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to limited inside space, the case of a horizontal computer fits only one particular model of motherboard. Therefore, the user of a horizontal computer cannot purchase a different model of motherboard from the market to upgrade the computer. When wishing to upgrade the computer, the consumer shall have to buy a new computer. In this case, the disposal of the old computer is a problem. To the manufacturer, it is not an economic way to design a computer case that fits only one particular model of motherboard. When developed a new motherboard, the manufacturer shall have to invest a lot of money to design a new computer case for the new motherboard.
However, there is a limitation on the size of a computer case. Due to limited vertical height of a horizontal computer, the space between the computer case and the motherboard is insufficient to accommodate interface cards. Further, an interface card has a limitation on height. In order to accommodate more pieces of interface cards in a server, the case of the server must be made relatively bigger. However, increasing the size of the case relatively makes the server bulky and heavy, not in conformity with the requirement for small-scale mechanization.

Horizontal computer mounting arrangement


A method of manufacturing a multiple microelectrode assembly is disclosed. Micromachining technology (such as micro-electrical-discharge machining technology, laser-beam micromachining, electron-beam micromachining) is used to manufacture an electrode/base assembly. The electrode/base assembly is placed within a container; a liquid material is placed into the container; the liquid material surrounds the electrodes of the electrode/base assembly and is allowed to solidify; and the solidified liquid material in combination with the electrode/base assembly is separated from the container. The bottom (or base) portion of the electrode/base assembly is then removed. The electrodes of the electrode/base assembly comprise a plurality of rod-like members of very small (on the order of 1 micron) metallic members of preselected dimension, shape and spacing, by which they are adapted in combination with the surrounding insulating material as a multiple microelectrode assembly.

A multiple microelectrode assembly comprises a plurality of conductive paths (i.e. electrodes) which are positioned substantially parallel to one another. The cross-sectional diameter of each electrode is desirably small, often on the order of microns. Furthermore, these electrodes are electrically insulated from each other.
Multiple microelectrodes are used, particularly in medicine and biotechnology, to transmit electrical signals along passageways and to make contact with individual cells within a living organism. Multiple micro electrode assemblies have a variety of applications including the control of damaged human nervous systems and auditory systems and the measurement of signals emanating from minute parts of living organisms.
A variety of methods are presently known for making multiple microelectrode assemblies. One such method is to make a multiple microelectrode assembly using integrated circuits (IC) processing. However, using IC processing, electrode materials are limited to semiconductor materials (e.g. silicon material). In addition, the resultant multiple microelectrode assemblies tend to have high internal strain. An alternative manner of producing multiple microelectrodes is by combining a plurality of individually insulated conductors into a single assembly. However, by producing a multiple microelectrode assembly in this manner, the distances between individual electrodes are fairly imprecise. In addition, a multiple microelectrode assembly thus produced is somewhat bulky, due to the presence of space and excessive insulation between the individual electrodes.

Method of manufacturing a multiple microelectrode assembly


The present invention relates to a high-vacuum serial condenser system that can minimize a pressure drop of fluid in condensers by disposing straight pipes between the condensers and installing baffles at predetermined angles in the condensers.

In general, condensers (heat exchangers) are, depending on the types, classified into an air-cooled condenser, a water-cooled condenser, an evaporative condenser, a shell and tube condenser, etc., and of theses condensers, the shell and tube condenser is easiest to manufacture and operate, so it is generally used in various commercial processes. The shell and tube condenser can be categorized into various types, depending on the shell types based on standard types by TEMA (Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association). Of these shell types, E-type is most widely used, and a J-type or an X-type is used for a large pressure drop.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a process of condensing in a common X-type serial condenser system. In the shell and tube condenser system, when the heat exchange area is insufficient or two or more refrigerants (cooling water and chilled water) are used, two or more condensers are connected in series, as shown in FIG. 1. However, as can be seen from FIG. 1, the passage for delivering vapor from a first condenser 2 to a second condenser 4 is bent at several locations (that is, with four elbows indicated by red dotted circles in FIG. 1), which causes a pressure drop. Accordingly, when installing high-vacuum condensers in series, it is most important to minimize a pressure drop of fluid that is supplied to the condensers.


A Christmas lamp with a base has a cylindrical portion formed with a plurality of lengthwise ribs and a plurality of lengthwise slots defined by the ribs. The slots are useful for dispersing heat produced by the lamp quickly. And, inner contact surfaces of the ribs are in close contact with an outer surface of the lamp to keep the lamp secured in the base.

A prior art Christmas lamp shown in FIGS. 4-7 includes a lamp 10 in combination with a base 20 which together are then coupled to a socket 40.
The lamp 10 which has two electrical lead wires 101 extending from it is inserted into a base 20 having a cylindrically shaped lamp receiving chamber with a solid sidewall and two hollow feet 202, 202 extending down from it to allow the two electrical lead wires 101, 101 to pass therethrough. Typically, the diameter of the lamp receiving chamber of the base 20 is greater than that of the lamp 10. Consequently, the lamp 10 may not be held tightly within base 20, diminishing the structural integrity of the lamp 10. Furthermore, the solid sidewall of the lamp receiving chamber prevents the effective dissipation of heat produced by the lamp 10. The solidity of the sidewall may also cause the bulb of the lamp 10 to break when it undergoes heat expansion.


An arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination including a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, where the at least one towed vehicle includes at least one actively steered axle and/or individual brake on at least one axle, where the towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle each includes an arrangement for determining yaw rate for determining the yaw rate of the vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle, where the arrangement further includes a vehicle combination model adapted for determining a desired delay value between the yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle, where the arrangement is adapted to stabilize the at least one towed vehicle by using the determined yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the desired delay value for the at least one towed vehicle to establish a desired yaw rate for the at least one towed vehicle, and to control the steered axle and/or the individual brake of the at least one towed vehicle such that the determined yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle corresponds to the desired yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle. The yaw rate may be estimated or measured. The advantage of the invention is that the stability of a vehicle combination can be improved, which in turn improves the road safety.

The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for stabilizing a vehicle combination comprising a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle. The arrangement and method is especially suited for vehicle combinations having more than one towed vehicle.
In order to reduce the number of heavy vehicles on the roads, longer vehicle combinations comprising more than one towed vehicle are proposed for the use on regular roads in some countries. Apart from reducing the required number of towing vehicles for a specific load, the energy consumption and the emission of exhaust gases will also be reduced compared with traditional vehicle combinations. Normally, the length and the weight of the vehicle combination are controlled by law and regulations. In some countries, longer and/or heavier vehicle combinations are already allowed under restricted conditions. Such vehicles may comprise several towed vehicles and may be over 50 meters long and more. They are often used in remote areas and for specific purposes. In Australia, road trains comprising more than 4 trailers are used in some states and on some roads. Longer combination vehicles (LCV's) are also used in e.g. USA, Canada and Argentina. All these LCV's are used under strict regulations.
Long vehicle combinations containing several towed vehicles are in general more instable than vehicles having one or a few towed vehicles at high speed. This means that long vehicle combinations are more prone to roll over, jack-knife, trailer swing out and to start skidding. On the other hand, long vehicle combinations are more transport efficient since their load capacity is higher.
One problem with a longer vehicle combination is the stability of the vehicle combination. Even with vehicle combinations having a single towed vehicle, such as a tractor trailer combination, stability problems may arise when braking or turning. One stability problem that may arise is that the trailer starts swinging from side to side. This may happen when the vehicle travels with a relatively high speed and changes lane or drives in curves. The stability of the vehicle combination will normally correct itself when the vehicle travels straight, but this may still affect the traffic around the vehicle, either by bumping in to other vehicles or by scaring drivers in the vicinity. Another type of stability problem arises when the vehicle combination brakes. One such problem is known as jackknifing, in which the trailer will spin around such that the tractor and trailer will resemble a folded pocket knife.
There are several ways of improving the stability of a vehicle combination in order to avoid accidents. Solutions reducing the turning angle for the trailer have been proposed, unsuccessfully. Anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution controlled by an electronic control unit has reduced some types of accidents. Such solutions are mostly designed for a vehicle combination having a single trailer. For a longer vehicle combination having several towed vehicles, the proposed solutions will not suffice.
US 2010/070149 describes a trailer electronic braking system for a road train having a tractor and a plurality of trailers. The braking system includes a braking ECU on each trailer and a communication interface being provided so that the braking ECU on a first trailer and the braking ECU on a second trailer are able to communicate with one another. In use, the respective braking ECU on the first and second trailer receive an input from a respective sensor on the first and second trailer adapted to detect lateral acceleration and/or wheel speed. In the event that one of the sensors detects lateral acceleration and/or a wheel speed indicative of a loss of stability, the sensor generates a signal for actuating stability control, which signal is passed via the communication interface to the braking ECU on the other trailer, so that the other trailer can actuate stability control.
This system is adapted to measure the actual lateral acceleration or wheel speed of a trailer. If the ECU of one trailer detects a predefined condition indicative of a stability problem, a signal is sent to the ECU of the other trailer, such that the ECU of the other trailer can actuate the brakes of that trailer. This system is thus adapted to control actual, measured conditions when they already have occurred.
WO 2010087022 describes a behaviour controller of a vehicle combination (tractor+trailer/semi trailer) for preventing a jack-knife phenomenon while taking account of a fact that relative rotary action of the trailer and tractor changes according to the vehicle speed or the magnitude of deceleration. The controller comprises a brake force/drive force control section for controlling the brake force/drive force of a tractor or a trailer so as to reduce the difference in yaw rate between the tractor and the trailer. The brake force is controlled when the size of deviation of yaw rate of the tractor and yaw rate of the trailer exceeds a specified threshold. The brake force of each tractor or trailer wheel can be controlled independently.
This system is adapted to measure the actual rotary action between a tractor and a single trailer. This system is thus adapted to control actual, measured conditions when they already have occurred.
In some cases, there may however be an advantage in predicting the movement of the towed vehicles in advance in order to limit the swaying or swinging of the towed vehicles during e.g. a lane change. There is thus still room for improvements.
It is desirable to provide an arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination comprising a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle. It is also desirable to provide a method for improving stability of a vehicle combination comprising a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle.
In an arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination comprising a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, where the at least one towed vehicle comprises at least one actively steered axle and/or an individual brake on at least one axle, where the towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle each comprises a yaw rate determining means for determining the yaw rate of the vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle, where the arrangement further comprises a vehicle combination model adapted for determining a desired delay value between the yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle, the problem is solved in that the arrangement is adapted to stabilize the at least one towed vehicle by using the determined yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the desired delay value for the at least one towed vehicle to establish a desired yaw rate for the at least one towed vehicle, and to control the steered axle and/or the individual brake of the at least one towed vehicle such that the determined yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle corresponds to the desired yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle.
By this first embodiment of the arrangement, the arrangement will determine the actual yaw rate of the towing vehicle. The arrangement further comprises a vehicle combination model adapted for determining a desired delay value between the yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the yaw rate of each towed vehicle. By applying this delay value to the yaw rate value of each towed vehicle, each towed vehicle will behave similar to the towing vehicle. The stability of the towed vehicles can thus be improved.
The yaw rate of the towing vehicle can be determined either by estimation or by a measurement. The estimation may be done by using an estimation method based on vehicle combination properties, such as wheel speed of the vehicle, vehicle mass, vehicle length, steering angle etc. Yaw rate measurements are done by using a yaw rate sensor.
In an advantageous development of the inventive arrangement, the amplitude of the desired yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle and the amplitude of the determined yaw rate of the towing vehicle are proportional when carrying out a manouvre. The ratio between the amplitude values is preferably selected such that the ratio is close to 1, and is preferably in the range between 0.9-1.2. In this way, the damping of the yaw rate for the towed vehicles will improve the stability of the vehicle combination.
It is possible to use a deadband during the stabilizing of the vehicle combination when comparing the determined yaw rate with the reference yaw rate. In this way, small unnecessary adjustments of the vehicle combination are avoided when the vehicle combination travels on a straight road or behaves naturally as desired. Even when a vehicle combination travels straight, the towed vehicles may sway slightly sideways. By using a deadband, there will be no stabilizing of the vehicle combination for small sideways movements in this case. This is especially advantageous when the stabilizing actuators are wheel brakes, since the brakes do not have to be actuated constantly.
In a method for stabilizing a vehicle combination comprising a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, the steps of establishing a desired delay value for the yaw rate between the towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle in the vehicle combination by using a vehicle combination model, determining the yaw rate of the towing vehicle, establishing a desired yaw rate value for each towed vehicle by using the measured yaw rate and the established delay value, measuring the actual yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle, comparing the actual yaw rate with the desired yaw rate, and controlling the yaw rate of a towed vehicle to the desired yaw rate value by controlling steering axles and/or individual brakes on the at least one towed vehicle are comprised.
With the inventive method, a vehicle combination comprising at least one towed vehicle can be stabilized. The proportional factor of the yaw rate can be selected but is advantageously close to one.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and arrangement for vehicle stabilization


A positioning device for a drawer includes a base, a handle and a pair of connecting members. The base comprises a fixing plate, an engaging arm and a resilient member. The engaging arm comprises a tenon, a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, a first end connected to the fixing plate, and a second end connected to the resilient member. The tenon is disposed on the first side of the engaging arm adjacent to the second end. The second end of the engaging arm is formed with a first through hole. The handle is formed with a second through hole corresponding in position to the second end of the engagement arm. The handle is provided with a recess to accommodate the resilient member. The connecting members insert through the second through hole and the first through hole. By assembling the above parts with the drawer, the tenon engages with an engaging hole of the drawer slide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positioning device for a drawer, and more particularly to a positioning device that is applied to an undermount drawer slide and a drawer, without a tool to mount or to dismount the drawer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The connecting means of a conventional design for a drawer with an undermounted drawer slide requires a fastener to complete the assembly. A recent design has a quick-release device to mount and to dismount the drawer. The drawer slide has a hole corresponding to the quick-release device so as to position the drawer. There are a few patented devices on the market, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,261,737, 5,439,283, 5,580,139, 5,632,541, 6,454,371, 6,913,334 B2, 6,945,618 B2, and 7,226,139 B2, and US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2004/0095047, 2004/0227440, and 2005/0231083, which disclose a quick-release device and a fixing means.
The present invention conforms to Eco, Ecology and Economy design.


A lighting fixture includes a vertical center column, at least one light element operatively attached to the center column, and a plurality of vertical panes. An attachment mechanism is configured to attach the panes to the center column so that the panes, when attached to the center column, extend radially outward from the center column and so that the panes are releasably detachable from the center column outside the center column.

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures, particularly of the type suspended from a cable or chain and used, for example, for hallways and foyers. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in mounting panes of such lighting fixtures.
Light fixtures, for example such as are frequently suspended in halls and foyers, often include planar shaped panes. Typically, these panes circumferentially surround the center column of the fixture, creating a substantially enclosed structure. The fixtures generally include arms or other structures extending from the center column to secure the panes in their circumferential positions. The fixtures tend to be bulky and are typically shipped in their finally constructed form. Thus, they must be shipped in relatively large containers, resulting in relatively large shipping costs compared to the amount and weight of materials included in the fixture.
Additionally, the interior surfaces of panes permanently mounted in the fixture are difficult to clean. While fixtures have been constructed so that the circumferential panes hook onto support arms extending from the center column, thus permitting their removal for cleaning, the structure of the fixture still requires relatively large shipping containers. Similarly, while fixtures have been constructed having permanently attached panes extending radially from the center column, such fixtures generally require relatively large shipping containers.


An apparatus for spreading open flattened bags has a first air-pervious endless belt having a working flight provided with a working face and an opposite, reverse face; and a second air-pervious endless belt having a working flight provided with a working face and an opposite, reverse face. The working flights of the first and second belts are divergent at an acute angle in the bag conveying direction. There is further provided a suction device generating a vacuum for urging a gas to flow across the working flights in a direction from the working face to the reverse face of each working flight, whereby each bag introduced between the working flights adheres, with opposite bag panels, to the working faces of the working flights and is forwarded thereby in the conveying direction, while being gradually spread open.

This invention relates to an apparatus for spreading open flat bags which are open along one edge. The apparatus includes an air-pervious suction belt trained about two end rollers, at least one of which is driven. The suction belt has a flight having one face oriented towards the bags to be conveyed and another, reverse face which is exposed to vacuum.
An apparatus of the above-outlined known type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,631,768. The apparatus first folds a sheet to form an upwardly open hose. Sealing shoes and severing knives form upwardly open, individual bags from the hose and the bags are separated from one another as they pass through the suction belt. Thereafter, the bags are grasped by grippers at their longitudinal edges, and the two grippers which grasp a bag are moved towards one another whereby the bag spreads open. Subsequently, the bag is charged with goods and sealed. Such an apparatus needs substantial space and reliably spreads the bag open only when the bag material is relatively stiff.


Transparent stiff gel candles comprising a hydrocarbon oil, a wick, and one or more triblock, radial block or multiblock copolymer of a thermoplastic rubber, and optionally a diblock copolymer.

Candles made of conventional waxes are well known. A major decorative drawback to such a candle is that the use of waxes necessitates that the candle be opaque, thus limiting the ornamental capacity of the candle with respect to embedded decorative features.
Clear oil jar candles are also known in the art. However, prior to the present invention, these candles have been in liquid form only. These clear liquid candles, while permitting a type of embedded ornamental feature, do not permit the shaping of, for example, a pillar candle. These liquid candles are known to accumulate dust and other particulate matter from the air, thereby requiring that the oil be periodically discarded for aesthetic reasons. Additionally, liquid oil candles may spill and damage furnishings and the like. As yet another drawback, liquid candles must be assembled by the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,233 discloses a process for producing a potpourri wax candle. While such a candle has a decorative feature embedded therein, it is of a complex layered structure, and thus not easily manufactured.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,355 discloses a polyethylene block copolymer gelling agent, which may be used as a base for a decorative molded candle. This candle, however, is not transparent, and thus is of limited decorative value.
The present invention overcomes the problems in the prior art by providing stiff gel candles that are transparent. Thus, the candles of the invention permit the decorative shaping advantages of conventional wax candles as well as the embedded ornamental advantages of liquid oil candles. The candle of the present invention therefore provides an improved substitute for the conventional wax pillar or jar candle and for liquid oil jar candles.
The present invention involves a new use for oil-containing block copolymer gels as the hydrocarbon source of a candle. There is a need in the art for candles with improved aesthetic properties. Stiff transparent candles, into which decorative features have been added, are particularly desired. Accordingly, in this invention, advantageous combinations of block copolymers and oils are provided which produce heterophase thermally reversible mineral oil gels, and which have desirable properties for application as a clear, stiff gel candle.
The current methodology for producing mineral oil containing gels includes the use of metal soaps, surfactants (microemulsions), homopolymers, ionic homo- and copolymers and block copolymers. Some common gelling agents are fatty acid soaps of lithium, calcium, sodium, aluminum, zinc and barium. A number of homo- and copolymers have been used to gel hydrocarbon systems at certain polymer treatment levels including atactic ethylene-propylene. Homopolymers or copolymers which have pendant salt groups also form ion rich aggregates in a non-polar matrix. The ionic interaction and resultant polymer properties of these compositions, however, are dependent on the type of polymer backbone, type of ionic moiety and type of cation. Sulfonated polystyrenes exemplify this kind of system. Surfactant combinations have also been used to gel mineral oil/water systems. Surfactants are used at about 30 weight percent to gel oil and to gel 1:4 oil and water mixtures. Nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleates exemplify these type of systems.
Block copolymers are also known to provide physical cross-links to gels by selective sulfonation and subsequent phase separation of a particular block. Block systems including styrene-isoprene, styrene-butadiene and styrene ethylene oxide copolymers have been used for this cross-linking.
The advantages of the candle of the invention, which are set forth below or easily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, are provided by use of firm heterophase, thermally reversible mineral oil gels as the hydrocarbon portion of the candle.


When heating and bending glass sheets in a furnace, it has been found to be desirable to raise the glass sheets towards the furnace heat sources to increase obtainable temperature differentials and reduce heating power. An apparatus for bending the glass sheets includes an elongate furnace divided along its length into a plurality of heating zones, each heating zone having an upper part. A plurality of heat sources are arranged in the upper part of such heating zone and a plurality of carriages are arranged in succession along the length of the furnace below the furnace heat sources. A drive device propels the carriages through the zones of the furnace in intermittent steps, and a mould lift raises the bending mould towards the furnace heat sources. The bent glass sheet may be used in the manufacture of a vehicle glazing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of heating and bending a glass sheet, and more particularly to such a method in which the vertical distance between the glass sheet and a furnace heat source is varied. The invention also relates to apparatus for heating and bending a glass sheet in which this distance is varied. Bent glass sheets thus produced may be used in the manufacture of glazings for vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has long been recognised that it is desirable to be able to vary the vertical distance between a glass sheet and a heat source by which the sheet is heated. This technique provides a means of control of the heating effect which the heat source has on the glass sheet, and is thus a further means additional to, for example, control of heating effect by regulating the heat output of the heat source, or directing the heat by means of reflectors, shields or baffles. Control of the heating effect produced in the glass sheet is needed in many situations, for instance in glass bending to be able to produce bent glass sheets of various different shapes each requiring different degrees of heating in certain areas of the sheet to obtain the desired different shape on bending. Careful control of heating is especially important when producing bent glass sheets of complex curvature, i.e. having curvature in two directions at right angles to each other.
The need to vary the vertical distance between glass sheet and heat source occurs frequently in the bending of glass sheets for use in the manufacture of glazings for vehicles. Such sheets are commonly heated to a softened condition for bending while supported on a bending mould in a furnace. In this situation, there may be a need to vary the vertical distance between sheet and heat source during heating of the sheet. Generally, this arises because it is desired to heat one portion of the glass sheet to a higher temperature than another portion, i.e. differentially heat the glass sheet; for example, create a centre-edge temperature profile across the sheet to assist in obtaining a particular curvature, or locally heat the sheet to a higher temperature to obtain a sharper bend along a particular axis, e.g. by using an auxiliary heat source such as a crease heater. In these situations, one wishes to reduce the vertical distance between the glass sheet and the heat source at a certain stage during the heating of the sheet, and it is known to raise or lower heat sources to achieve this. However, when it is desired to vary the vertical distance between the sheet and a large number of heat sources, it is preferable from an engineering aspect to raise the sheet towards the heat sources.
A known apparatus in which the vertical distance between a glass sheet and a heat source is varied by raising the sheet towards the heat source is described in EP 476 693, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,083. In this apparatus, a glass sheet is placed on a bending mould on a carriage and transported to a position below a furnace. The carriage is then lifted into the furnace by means of a hoist. Additionally, the distance between the glass sheet and heating elements in the top section of the furnace may be varied by raising or lowering a movable floor of the carriage.
Clearly the rate of production attainable in such a furnace is very limited, as it can only accommodate one bending mould at a time. Furthermore, for more sophisticated control of the heating of a glass sheet, it is desirable to subject the sheet to different configurations of heating elements at different stages (as well as other control techniques e.g. different levels of heating power) during heating.
These requirements have been fulfilled by providing a glass bending apparatus comprising a furnace having a plurality of heating zones, wherein each zone can accommodate one or more bending moulds.
Such an apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,645. It comprises upper and lower transport runs, along which transfer cars are conveyed. The cars each have a single end wall which extends upwards towards the roof.
However, this document is concerned with improving the thermal efficiency of the furnace, and not with varying the vertical distance between a glass sheet and the furnace heat sources. It does not assist in improving control of the heating effect produced in the sheet while it is in any one zone.

Apparatus for heating and bending glass sheets involving raising a glass sheet towards furnace heat sources