A substrate treatment method is provided, which includes a rinsing step of supplying a rinse liquid to a front surface of a rotating substrate after a chemical liquid step. The rinsing step includes a higher-speed rinsing step and a deceleration rinsing step to be performed after the higher-speed rinsing step. The deceleration rinsing step includes a liquid puddling step of reducing the rotation speed of the substrate within a rotation speed range lower than a rotation speed employed in the higher-speed rinsing step and supplying the rinse liquid to the front surface of the substrate at a flow rate higher than a maximum supply flow rate employed in the higher-speed rinsing step, whereby a puddle-like rinse liquid film is formed on the front surface of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate treatment method and a substrate treatment apparatus. Exemplary substrates to be treated include semiconductor wafers, substrates for liquid crystal display devices, substrates for plasma display devices, substrates for FED (Field Emission Display) devices, substrates for optical disks, substrates for magnetic disks, substrates for magneto-optical disks, substrates for photo masks, ceramic substrates and substrates for solar cells.
2. Description of Related Art
In production processes for semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices, a substrate treatment apparatus of a single substrate treatment type adapted to treat a single substrate at a time is used, which includes a spin chuck which horizontally holds a substrate and rotates the substrate, and a nozzle which spouts a treatment liquid toward a center portion of a front surface of the substrate being rotated by the spin chuck.
In a substrate treatment to be performed by the substrate treatment apparatus, a chemical liquid step of supplying a chemical liquid to the front surface of the rotating substrate, and a rinsing step of supplying a rinse liquid to the front surface of the rotating substrate are sequentially performed. Thereafter, isopropyl alcohol (IPA liquid) is supplied to the front surface of the substrate. The rotation speed of the substrate is zero or low when the IPA liquid is supplied. Since no centrifugal force or a smaller centrifugal force acts on the IPA liquid, the IPA liquid is retained on the front surface of the substrate to form a liquid film (this state is hereinafter referred to "puddle-like state"). After the rinse liquid is replaced with the IPA liquid on the front surface of the substrate, the rotation speed of the substrate is increased to spin off the IPA liquid film from the front surface of the substrate to dry the substrate.
JP2009-295910A and JP2009-212408A propose a method in which the puddle-like liquid film of the rinse liquid is retained on the front surface of the substrate (puddle rinsing step) before the IPA liquid film is retained on the front surface of the substrate after the rinsing step in this process sequence. According to these patent documents, the rinsing step is performed with the substrate being rotated at a predetermined liquid treatment rotation speed, and then the rotation speed of the substrate is reduced from the liquid treatment rotation speed to a lower speed. At this time, a smaller centrifugal force acts on the rinse liquid supplied to the substrate. Therefore, the rinse liquid stagnates on the front surface of the substrate, so that the puddle-like rinse liquid film is retained on the entire front surface of the substrate.

Substrate treatment method and substrate treatment apparatus


A photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The sixth lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a photographing optical lens assembly, an image capturing unit and an electronic device, more particularly to a photographing optical lens assembly and an image capturing unit applicable to an electronic device.
Description of Related Art
In recent years, with the popularity of electronic devices having camera functionalities, the demand of miniaturized optical systems has been increasing. The sensor of a conventional optical system is typically a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensor. As the advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies have allowed the pixel size of sensors to be reduced and compact optical systems have gradually evolved toward the field of higher megapixels, there is an increasing demand for compact optical systems featuring better image quality.
A conventional optical system employed in a portable electronic product mainly adopts a five-element lens structure. Due to the popularity of mobile terminals with high-end specifications, such as smart phones, tablet personal computers and wearable apparatus, the requirements for high resolution and image quality of present compact optical systems increase significantly. However, the conventional optical systems cannot satisfy these requirements of the compact optical systems.
Other conventional compact optical systems with six-element lens structure are developed to enhance resolution and image quality. However, a back focal length of the optical system is too long to favorably keep the optical system compact. Furthermore, the refractive power of the optical system is unevenly distributed, which overly enlarges the incident angle of the light at the peripheral region of the image, thereby resulting in excessive stray light. Moreover, an image-side surface of the fourth lens element of the optical system is convex. Hence, it is unfavorable for adjusting the image difference between a central region and a peripheral region and reducing the aberration at the peripheral region of the image.

Photographing optical lens assembly, image capturing unit and electronic device


The present invention discloses a method of fast call setup in digital trunking communication system, including: the terminal user initiating a PTT call; the base station receiving said PTT call request, assigning channel resource for the call, establishing forward service channel according to the distribution of channel, transmitting an empty frame on the forward service channel and at the same time transmitting an extended channel assignment message to specify the service channel assigned for the terminal; after receiving the extended channel assignment message, the terminal user opening the receiver to track and acquire the forward service channel, and at the same time transmitting one or more prefix-frame on the reverse service channel or reverse pilot channel; the base station or the terminal performing the operation of acquisition of service channel, if the acquisition succeeds, the call setup is successful, if the acquisition fails, the call setup is failed and enters release flow. The method of the present invention adopts a mode of overlapping of signaling handshake and channel acquisition, so as to advance the signaling handshake, reduce call accessing time, and realize fast call setup.

Under the promotion of the increasingly diverse social demands, the mobile communication technology has developed from analog communication system to the current widely used second generation mobile communication system and 2.5 generation mobile communication system, and until the third generation mobile communication system which will be employed in a wide range in the near future. The development of mobile communication technology not only meets the demands of people on voice service, but also effectively meets the demands for the value-added services including the video, audio and interaction of real-time multimedia services, thereby the mobile communication system plays a more and more important role in people's life and work. Among the above, the trunking communication has increasingly become an indispensable service, the digital trunking system is an important branch of the mobile communication system, and is a special mobile communication system for multiple users sharing and dynamically utilizing a group of wireless channels.
The method of realizing trunking services in CDMA2000 system includes two types: the group call and the private call, which are important service features of the trunking system. The group call means that a single user can talk with all the other users in the group simultaneously in a permitted time. When one user is talking, all the other users in the group must listen to him. Once a user in the group pushes the PPT (Push To Talk) button, other users in the group whose priority level is same with that of the user pushing the PPT button can not break in but only wait till the talk is finished. The private call is one-to-one call between users, a user can talk to the one who he is intended to talk in the group without being heard by other users in the group. The trunking system based on CDMA standard adopts grouping data channels for trunking call service, i.e. to realize fast call setup by adopting Ethernet transmission, rather than the traditional circuit exchange in circuit domain. In order to meet the needs of trunking group call and private call, the trunking system based on CDMA standard adopts the method of fast call access. The features of the trucking communication system based on CDMA standard lie in that it adopts semiduplex communication mode, can realize a fast access and supports the group call, i.e. the calling mode of one-to-multi-users. In trunking communication, the users in the group are required to share the forward channel within a region. When users in the group are to call or talk, they only need to press PTT button, then they are able to talk with other users in the group. This type of PTT service is widely applied to intercommunication system and trunking system, providing command and dispatch functions for group users, such as police, fire-fighting, transportation and communication, air station and aviation, construction site, large-scale gathering, and military dispatching etc. With advancement of society, increase of population mobility, and fast development of mobile communication technology, the range of personal communication is becoming wider and wider. The application of trunking service also gradually turns to the individuals, for example, it may be applied in the chat among fashionable young peoples or small communities, and communications between family members. The trunking communication system based on CDMA standard can attract not only new individual users, but also some professional users for the operators.
The most important character of the trunking communication is that it requires short accessing time and quick acquisition of channel. But the traditional CDMA system adopts the method of serial acquisition. The base station subsystem sends out the Extended Channel Assignment Message (ECAM), then sends empty frames to terminal user on the service channel assigned; the terminal user processes the ECAM message, then turns to the forward service channel, and transmits the prefix-frame on the reverse channel after receiving at least two continuous valid empty frames; after acquiring the reverse channel, the base station subsystem sends Base Station Acknowledge Order (BSAckOrder) message to the terminal user, and points out in the Base Station Acknowledge Order message that the message needs to be verified; the terminal user responses by sending message of Terminal Acknowledge Order (MSACKOrder), and points out whether the message needs to be verified by the base station. The above procedures are on the premise that the terminal acquires the forward channel, if the terminal does not acquire the forward channel, it will not send the reverse prefix-frame. However, this type of serial procedure takes a long time for acquisition, and the signaling handshake can only be proceed after the whole acquisition process is finished. Moreover, the requirement of fast call setup in group call can not be satisfied due to the added time for establishing call. In addition, since trunking communication is mainly applied to emergent dispatch, such as the marine emergency, military dispatching, public security command and rush-to-danger dispatching, which are urgent and have high requirement on time, the call establishing time by the traditional cellular mobile communication system can only meet the requirements of common users, but not the trunking users' requirements on fast response. In order to meet the fast response requirement of the trunking communication, the ordinary call establishing procedure must be reformed to reduce the acquisition time, thereby meeting the fast call setup requirement of the digital trunking communication system. At present, there is still no effective method of fast call setup in the digital trunking system based on CDMA technology.

Method of digital trunked communication system fast call setup


Systems and methods for visualization, sharing and analysis of large data sets are described. Systems and methods may include receiving an input data set, wherein the input data set includes data that can be classified in classification dimensions wherein a first classification dimension is a linear ordering of data entries and a second classification dimension represents analysis criteria, traits of the data entries, or aspects of the data entries; obtaining an unabridged data table listing results for each combination of coordinates in the first classification dimension and the second classification dimension; and displaying contents of the unabridged data table as a visual array wherein two axes correspond to the coordinates and a third axis corresponds to a third classification dimension, wherein the third classification dimension represents an actual value of the respective data point for the coordinates. Methods may also assess the visual array, such as by identifying one or more regions of high density of signals.

Many large data sets are difficult to work with and a challenge to analyze successfully. In particular, it is often difficult to quickly determine relevant data or associations of interest over a large data set. This problem arises in a number of fields.
For example, as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) plus whole genome sequence (WGS) analyses for complex human disease determinants are expanding, it is increasingly necessary to develop strategies to facilitate large data sharing, rapid replication and validation of potential disease-gene associations. This is especially true for signals that straddle the threshold for genome-wide significance due to small effect size, lack of statistical power in the study population, or a combination of these.
Annotations of human genome variation have identified some 60 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which offer the promise of connecting nucleotide and structural variation to hereditary traits. Genotyping arrays that resolve millions of common SNPs have enabled over 2000 GWAS to discover principal genetic determinants of complex multifactorial human diseases. Today, whole genome sequence association has extended the prospects for personalized genomic medicine, capturing rare variants, copy number variation, indels, epistatic and epigenetic interactions in hopes of achieving individualized genomic assessment, diagnostics, and therapy of complex maladies by interpreting one's genomic heritage.
GWAS studies to date have produced conflicting signals because many SNP associations fail to replicate in independent studies. Further, GWAS frequently fail to implicate previously-validated gene regions described in candidate gene associations for the same disease, and in most cases offer less than 10% of the explanatory variance for the disease etiology. In addition, discovered gene variants are frequently nested in noncoding desert regions of the genome that are difficult to interpret. At least part of these weaknesses derive from discounting SNP association "hits" that fail to achieve "genome-wide significance", a widely accepted, albeit conservative, statistical threshold set to discard the plethora of seemingly false positive statistical associations (Type I errors) that derive from the large number of SNPs interrogated.
A challenge to genetic epidemiology involves disentangling the true functional associations that fall below the genome-wide significance threshold from the myriad of statistical artifacts that also occur. No one has developed a real solution to this conundrum though some approaches have been offered. Many researchers agree that more widely practiced open access data sharing of unabridged GWAS data would offer the opportunity for multiple plausible approaches to bear on this question. However, for many cohorts, especially those developed before the advent of the genomics era, participants were not consented for open access of genome-wide data. Since patient anonymization is virtually impossible with genetic epidemiological data, the prospects of sharing patients' genotype and clinical data may conflict with ethical concerns over protecting the individual privacy of study subjects.
Needs exist for improved systems and methods for visualization, sharing and analysis of large data sets.

Visualization, sharing and analysis of large data sets


A successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter including separable dual capacitor array is disclosed. The disclosed successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter comprises: a dual capacitor array configured to include a first capacitor array for converting most significant bits of n bits and a second capacitor array for converting least significant bits of the n bits; a comparator configured to compare a level signal outputted from the first capacitor array with a level signal outputted from the second capacitor array; and an SAR logic circuit configured to convert an analog input voltage into a digital signal having the n bits by using the comparison result. Here, the first capacitor array includes a 1-1 capacitor circuit and a 1-2 capacitor circuit and the second capacitor array includes a 2-1 capacitor circuit and a 2-2 capacitor circuit. Each of the capacitor circuits includes capacitors connected in parallel each other.

An analog-to-digital converter ADC means an apparatus for receiving an analog signal showed with successive values and converting the analog signal into a digital signal (n bits) showed with discrete positive value. The ADC includes a pipelined ADC, a successive approximation register SAR and an algorithmic ADC, etc.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are views illustrating concept of a successive approximation register using conventional dual capacitor array.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional successive approximation register 100 using a dual capacitor array includes a dual capacitor array 110, a comparator 120 and an SAR logic circuit 130. Here, the successive approximation register 100 performs a sampling operation and a hold operation for converting a digital signal.
The capacitor 110 includes a first capacitor 110-1 for converting most significant bits MSBs of n bits and a second capacitor array 110-2 for converting lease significant bits LSBs of the n bits.
Particularly, one terminal of the second capacitor array 110-2 is connected to a ground in the event that the conventional successive approximation register 100 performs the sampling operation as shown in (a) in FIG. 1, and a reference voltage is applied to one terminal of the second capacitor array 110-2 in the event that the conventional successive approximation register 100 performs the hold operation as shown in (b) in FIG. 1.
That is, the dual capacitor array of the conventional successive approximation register 100 with single-ended structure separates the first capacitor array 110-1 for the MSB and the second capacitor array 110-2 for the LSB, thereby reducing switching energy.
However, the problem exists in that 90% or more of total switching energy is consumed (E=256C0VREF2) during the sampling process and the hold process in the conventional successive approximation register 100 with the dual capacitor array, as shown in FIG. 2.

Successive approximation resister analog-to-digital converter having separable dual capacitor array

CHUNG-ANG UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMY COOPERATION FOUNDATION


Power savings occur when the optical path of an optical navigation device is configured to provide that maximum energy from the light source is reflected by the navigation surface to the photosensors of the optical navigation chip. Additional power savings may be achieved when the maximized optical path is combined with the features of a controlled light source that uses specular reflection.

Wireless navigation devices, e.g. optical mice, are becoming increasingly popular. A wireless optical mouse requires an internal power source because it is not connected to an external source of power. A wireless optical mouse typically includes an internal power source that supplies power to an optical navigation chip, a light source, a microcontroller and a transmitter. The most common internal power source is a battery, either rechargeable or disposable. The battery life is determined by the total power consumed during mouse operation. Increased battery life is an important goal, as the battery life of contemporary wireless optical mice is considered inadequate.
The light source in a conventional optical mouse accounts for approximately one quarter of the total power consumption of the mouse. The power required for the light source depends on the behavior of the photosensors of the optical navigation chip surface. To operate correctly, the photosensors of an optical navigation chip must receive a certain amount of light during the time that the photosensors are active. The photosensors will not provide useful information if either too little light is received (no signal) or too much light is received (saturation). Two basic approaches are used to assure that photosensors received a controlled amount of light while they are active. The first approach is to use a constant light source and to switch the photosensors from an active state to an inactive state when enough light is estimated to have been received during each sample period. The second approach, controlled light source technique, is to change the duty cycle and/or intensity of the light source to adjust the amount of light received by the photosensors during each sample period. If power savings is a concern, then the second approach is superior, because the light source is illuminated only during the periods that the photosensors require illumination.
When using the controlled light source method described above, power usage is minimized when the fraction of light reaching the photosensor array is maximized. For conventional optical mice, the navigation surface below the mouse is assumed to cause the light source to be scattered uniformly from the surface. For such a surface, light received by the photosensors is maximized when the photosensor array is parallel to the navigation surface and is centered over the illuminated portion of the navigation surface. As the photosensor array is moved away from being directly centered above the illuminated area of the navigation surface, the fraction of light received by the photosensor array is expected to decrease. However, most surfaces do not cause uniform scattering and many have a stronger component in the specular direction.

Optical mouse with reduced power consumption

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A system and method for acoustic quieting and reduction of vibration of an electromechanical actuator (“EMA”) accomplished by using closed loop control techniques using vibration feedback from an EMA mounted sensor to modify the current command in the motor drive electronics to minimize the resultant motor torque ripple.

Electric actuators are generally known. As illustrated in FIG. 1, electric actuators often contain five basic elements: power conversion 200; control power electronics 203; an electric motor as the prime mover 206; mechanical components such as gears, screws and bearings for motion conversion 209; and sensors.
Each of these elements may contribute to the vibration signature of the actuation system. Previous studies have concentrated on the electric motor and the mechanical components as the main focus. These studies have sought to reduce the disturbance at the source by modifying the motor and mechanical components. One result of this work is a permanent magnet motor modeling tool that was developed by Applied Physical Sciences. The use of this tool allowed the designer to identify excitation frequencies within the motor, and thereby modify the motor design to minimize these frequencies. Similarly, the forcing frequencies from the mechanical components could be determined from known kinematics equations.


A foldable walking stabilizer device for a disabled person having a U-shaped base with caster assemblies on each leg of the base and upright members extending from the base, the upright members having brake assemblies normally preventing the caster assemblies to move and adapted to release the casters for movement on manipulation of the brake assemblies, wherein the brake assemblies have an adjustable tension control associated with the caster assemblies for permitting a user to slow down or speed up walking movement. The invention also discloses a fulcrum device on the base which permits the user to lift the device over curbs and similar obstructions, as well as improved folding mechanism which permits the device to be conveniently collapsed by the user for storage and transport.

This invention relates to improvements in a foldable walking stabilizer device, and is particularly concerned with improvements for controlling movement of such a device by a disabled person. Such improvements include novel means for the user to lift the device over curbs and similar obstructions. The improvements also include novel arrangements of components of the stabilizer device in a more usable and convenient position for the user and more secure and safer for the user in that the device is locked in position unless the user continually activates the unit for movement. Other improvements include new and novel structure for making the device easier and more convenient for folding and transportation.
Specifically, these improvements consist of
1. Providing an adjustable side tension control for slowing down the walker device by rotating a convenient lever which causes frictional engagement of structure on the main wheels of the stabilizer device, thus permitting the user to slow down or speed up walking movement.
2. Adding a rear press down frame on the device available to the user which can be easily manipulated for going over curbs and similar obstructions.
3. Upgrading the spring loaded front caster on the device to improve its function and adjustability so that the stabilizer can traverse larger obstacles.
4. Providing a central junction box on the device to reduce the length and complexity of control cables and to provide a convenient position for a laser cueing product, which enhances movement by the disabled person without fear or hesitation.
5. Arranging an adjustable back rest which allows convenient use for people of different sizes, postures and disabilities, particularly for a user who has become exhausted.
6. Devising an improved fold up means, making folding easier with better functionality and with simple release means operable with one hand and minimum effort, without excessive bending or uncomfortable movement by the user.
7. Having a convertible brake bar means for a disable person to operate by means of a centrally located pivotally rockable bar, without having to rely upon just the hand brakes which require the ability to press them for operation.
These and other improvements will become more apparent as this description proceeds, taking in conjunction with the accompanying drawings or photographs.


Systems and methods for converting power are presented. The power conversion includes conducting load current through a first current path of multiple current paths in a power conversion unit using switches, diodes, or a combination thereof. The power conversion also includes blocking one or more additional current paths of the multiple current paths in the power conversion unit using one or more of the switches, one or more of the diodes, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the power conversion includes reducing potential voltage stress on the one or more switches by using one or more voltage stress reduction switches to reduce a voltage that is blocked by the one or more blocking switches or diodes by connecting an end of each of the one or more switches opposite to a blocking edge to an intermediate voltage node.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to power converters.
Power converters may be used to create a variable frequency used to drive various electrical devices (e.g., AC motor) using a generated AC signal. Some driven electrical devices use high quality (e.g., high resolution) output waveforms from low, medium, or high voltages. The resolution of the AC signal may be determined by the number of levels that the power converter can produce. For example, power converters may produce AC signals with three or more available power levels (e.g., low, intermediate, high). Each additional power level adds greater resolution, but additional power levels also increase complexity of the power converter.


The invention is related to phosphorus substituted anti-viral inhibitory compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Improving the delivery of drugs and other agents to target cells and tissues has been the focus of considerable research for many years. Though many attempts have been made to develop effective methods for importing biologically active molecules into cells, both in vivo and in vitro, none has proved to be entirely satisfactory. Optimizing the association of the inhibitory drug with its intracellular target, while minimizing intercellular redistribution of the drug, e.g., to neighboring cells, is often difficult or inefficient.
Most agents currently administered to a patient parenterally are not targeted, resulting in systemic delivery of the agent to cells and tissues of the body where it is unnecessary, and often undesirable. This may result in adverse drug side effects, and often limits the dose of a drug (e.g., glucocorticoids and other anti-inflammatory drugs) that can be administered. By comparison, although oral administration of drugs is generally recognized as a convenient and economical method of administration, oral administration can result in either (a) uptake of the drug through the cellular and tissue barriers, e.g., blood/brain, epithelial, cell membrane, resulting in undesirable systemic distribution, or (b) temporary residence of the drug within the gastrointestinal tract. Accordingly, a major goal has been to develop methods for specifically targeting agents to cells and tissues. Benefits of such treatment includes avoiding the general physiological effects of inappropriate delivery of such agents to other cells and tissues, such as uninfected cells.
Hepatitis C is recognized as a chronic viral disease of the liver which is characterized by liver disease. Although drugs targeting the liver are in wide use and have shown effectiveness, toxicity and other side effects have limited their usefulness.
Assay methods capable of determining the presence, absence or amounts of HCV are of practical utility in the search for inhibitors as well as for diagnosing the presence of HCV.
Inhibitors of HCV are useful to limit the establishment and progression of infection by HCV as well as in diagnostic assays for HCV.
There is a need for HCV therapeutic agents, i.e. drugs, having improved inhibitory and pharmacokinetic properties, including enhanced activity against development of viral resistance, improved oral bioavailability, greater potency and extended effective half-life in vivo. New HCV inhibitors should have fewer side effects, less complicated dosing schedules, and be orally active. In particular, there is a need for a less onerous dosage regimen, such as one pill, once per day.


This invention comprises compositions containing dihydroartemisinin and dihydroartemisitene dimers with activity as anticancer agents and anti-protozal, including anti-malarial and anti-leishmanial properties. This invention also describes methods of preparation of these compositions and methods of use of such compositions for the treatment of cancer, and protozoal infections, including malaria, or leishmaniasis.

Cancer deaths in the U.S. alone were over 500,000 in 2001, and in spite of many advances, cancer remains one of the leading killers (1). There is a critical need for the development of new anti-cancer agents, especially those with novel and selective mechanisms of action. Although some of the promise of non-cytotoxic therapies is beginning to be realized (e.g. immunostimulants, growth factor antagonists, anti-sense therapy), the mainstay of the treatment of most cancers remains with cytotoxic drugs. In view of the limited success rates, incidence of toxicities, and development of resistance to such agents, there is a dire need for new classes of these drugs, especially those that may act by new mechanisms or exhibit exploitable selectivity. There is also a need for a better understanding of dosing, scheduling, and concomitant therapies in order to optimize treatment protocols.
Natural products have historically been a rich source of new, successful prototype classes of lead compounds from which analogs have been developed. According to a recent review, 60% of the anti-infective and anti-cancer drugs that have successfully advanced to the clinic are derived from natural products (2). Examples of these among currently used anti-cancer agents include the anthracycline class (e.g., doxorubicin), the Catharanthus (Vinca) alkaloids, paclitaxel, and derivatives of podophyllotoxin and camptothecin. A recently published tabulation of natural product-based anti-tumor drugs shows more than 25 agents currently in Phase I or II (3). This and other recent reviews are important reminders of the critical role of natural products as a resource for the discovery of new anti-tumor agents (4,5). The natural product artemisinin (1) is a sesquiterpene endoperoxide first isolated in 1971 from the Chinese plant Artemisia annua (6). The compounds as numbered herein are depicted in FIG. 1. The compound was shown to have anti-malarial activity against both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum.
Because of the importance of the clinical effects of artemisinin in treating malaria, many derivatives were prepared in order to develop the most effective and least toxic anti-malarial agent. Initially, simple derivatives were prepared—e.g., dihydroartemisinin (DHA, in which the lactone carbonyl is reduced resulting in a hemiacetal), artemether (the methyl ether of DHA) and several other ether and ester analogs. The sodium salt of the hemisuccinate ester (sodium artesunate) was one of these derivatives that showed more activity and less toxicity than artemether, the latter being more active than artemisinin itself. Continued interest in the activity of artemisinin and DHA analogs later resulted in the preparation of artemisinin acetal dimers through reaction of dihydroartemisinin with borontrifluoride-etherate.
In addition to its anti-malarial activity, artemisinin had been reported to have cytotoxic effects against EN-2 tumor cells (7), P-388, A549, HT-29, MCF-7, and KB-tumor cells (8). As more analogs were evaluated for anti-tumor activity, it was reported that the unsymmetrical dimer (2) showed strong cytotoxic activity and was more potent than cisplatin (9). The symmetrical dimer (3) also showed pronounced cytotoxic activity (10).
This finding stimulated interest in other types of DHA dimers. Posner et al. (11) prepared dimers linked with a polyethylene glycol spacer (3 units of ethylene glycol), an eight carbon glycol, and a dithio-derivative. The authors also prepared simpler trioxane dimers. Posner et al. also prepared several dimers of DHA where the linking units between the two molecules of dihydroartemisinin were dicarboxylic acids of different types (12). Zhang and Darbie (13,14) also proposed several dihydroartemisinin dimers to be linked via different coupling agents. Some of these artemisinin dimers and some of the simpler trioxanes had anti-malarial effects, anti-cancer activity, and anti-proliferative effects with some compounds being as active as calcitriol in an anti-proliferative assay in murine keratinocytes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dihydroartemisinin and dihydroartemisitene dimers as anti-cancer and anti-infective agents

Abstract: The compounds of this invention represent a potential new class of anti-tumor agents, one that has shown promising activity against solid tumors, and with a pattern of selectivity that suggests a possible new mechanism of action.


A control system for controlling a vehicle which has an engine for driving at least one of wheels thereof and a motor for driving at least one of the rest of the wheels thereof. The control system includes: a motor generator configured to be driven by the engine for generating first alternating-current power at a first voltage; an inverter which converts the first alternating-current power to second power at a second voltage lower than the first voltage or to third direct-current power at a third voltage; and a battery to be charged with the second power supplied from the inverter. The motor is supplied with the third direct-current power at the third voltage obtained from the first alternating-current power.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a control system and a control method for controlling a four wheel drive (4WD) vehicle, in which either one of a pair of front wheels or a pair of rear wheels are driven by an engine and the other pair of wheels are driven by a motor.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publications No. 2002-152911 and 2002-200932 disclose a 4WD vehicle in which front wheels thereof are driven by an engine and rear wheels thereof are driven by a motor. Electric power to be supplied to the motor is generated by a power generator driven by the engine.

Control system and controlling method for motor drive four wheel drive vehicle


A rotary valve comprises a bushing and a cylindrical spool rotatably received by the bushing. The rotary valve avoids redundant control edge pairs by having exactly one first supply edge pair (P-C1) for controlling a first fluid supply path, exactly one second supply edge pair (P-C2) for controlling a second fluid supply path, exactly one first return edge pair (C2-R1) for controlling a first fluid return path, and exactly one second return edge pair (C1-R2) for controlling a second fluid return path. A first angle between the first supply edge pair and the first return edge pair, and a second angle between the second supply edge pair and the second return edge pair, are each greater than or equal to 120 degrees and less than 180 degrees. Geometric simplicity is achieved by tolerating a limited degree of force imbalance in valve operation.

Direct drive rotary valves are known for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid between a high pressure fluid source (P) and fluid-powered load, such as a hydraulic actuator. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a known system in which a four-way rotary valve is used to meter hydraulic fluid to and from opposed chambers of a fluid-powered load in the form of a hydraulic actuator. A common rotary valve configuration includes a spool rotatably mounted within a bushing. The spool and bushing include various ports and passages configured to open and close flow paths to and from the fluid-powered load depending upon the rotational position of the spool relative to the bushing. For example, where the load is a hydraulic actuator having first and second opposed chambers, the rotary valve may be configured to open a first fluid supply path (P to C1) for delivering fluid from a pressure source to the first chamber, while simultaneously opening a first fluid return path (C2 to R1) by which fluid may return from the second chamber to a system reservoir. The same rotary valve may be adjusted by rotating the spool to open a second fluid supply path (P to C2) for delivering fluid from the pressure source to the second chamber, while simultaneously opening a second fluid return path (C1 to R2) by which fluid may return from the first chamber to the reservoir. When the first fluid supply path (P to C1) and the first fluid return path (C2 to R1) are open, the second fluid supply path (P to C2) and the second fluid return path (C1 to R2) are closed, and vice versa.
The spool may be driven by a torque motor through a limited range of rotation relative to the bushing. The spool has a rotational null position relative to the bushing, wherein flow of pressurized fluid is shut off to both chambers. Rotation of the spool relative to the bushing away from the null position progressively opens supply and return paths. Rotation of the spool in one direction from the null position supplies fluid to the first chamber via first supply path (P to C1) and enables return flow from the second chamber via first return path (C2 to R1), whereas rotation of the spool in an opposite direction from the null position supplies fluid to the second chamber via second supply path (P to C2) and enables return flow from the first chamber via second return path (C1 to R2).
A problem encountered in rotary valves of the type described above is that the inflow of pressurized fluid acts on spool surfaces, causing imbalance in the spool and making the spool more difficult to rotate. As a result, torque motor load requirements are increased, accompanied by greater size and weight of the motor. For many applications, particularly aerospace actuation systems, the added size and weight may be unacceptable.
Efforts have been made to overcome the problem of imbalance. Under one approach, the spool and bushing are provided with redundant metering edge pairs arranged to balance forces imparted to the spool by the flow of pressurized fluid. However, designs according to this approach have been very costly to produce due to added complexity in machining additional ports and flow channels in the spool, which typically is a miniature component on the order of 7 mm in diameter by 10 mm in axial length. Moreover, this approach presents added challenges with respect to synchronization of the edge pairs. Under another approach, a large radial clearance is provided between the spool and bushing, with the spool being mounted on bearings. However, designs according to this approach have done a poor job of controlling internal leakage. Consequently, designs using one or both of the mentioned approaches have not been widely adopted by industry.
What is needed is a rotary valve design that is geometrically simple for ease of manufacturing, yet also reduces spool imbalance to an acceptable level.


The speaker head is inserted into the protective ear insert and into one of the wearer's ears so that the audio signal is audible to the wearer in a loud environment where exterior noise is muffled by the protective ear insert and the speaker head is shielded from contact with the wearer. The protective insert is removably and moveably secured to the frame and variably positionable in accordance with the location of the wearer's ears.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hearing protection and communication assembly that includes an effective incorporation of eye protection, hygienic hearing protection, and a means for effective communication in a single, compact assembly that enables a worker in an industrial setting to maintain maximum safety and sanitary conditions while increasing productivity through communicability.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many industrial, mining, or construction related applications, employees are generally required to wear various types of protective gear, such as boots, hard hats, or gloves. Still, however, possibly the most important parts of the body to be protected are the eyes and ears of a worker. In particular, most industrial settings are quite loud such that prolonged exposure to the noise can result in permanent hearing loss. Also, because of the risk of small particles or potentially corrosive fluids being emitted from heavy machinery, a worker's vision can be at great risk if not properly protected. To this end, worker's are commonly required to wear some form of eye protection and/or hearing protection. Indeed, the need for eye and hearing protection frequently go hand-in-hand such that workers will often carry some form of safety goggles in addition to some form of ear coverings or plugs.
Often, the vision and hearing safety equipment is issued to a worker by the company in the form of a pair of protective glasses and a pair of disposable ear plugs. With regard to the ear plugs, although larger, exterior ear coverings which completely encase the ears are available, small, disposable plugs are highly preferred. In particular, the small ear plugs are less bulky, and therefore more comfortable, and are much more sanitary as each individual has their own plugs which are discarded after use. Further, the small ear plugs are much less expensive than the larger external ear covers. As such, if a company does choose to utilize external ear covers it will usually collect them at the end of a shift, and re-issue them immediately to another worker on the next shift, a practice which is not favorable as perspiration and contaminants from a previous user make the previously used external covers uncomfortable to wear and highly un-hygienic as the contaminants may easily be transferred from one worker to the next. As a result, whether to keep employees happy or to meet health guidelines, a business that chooses to use external ear coverings must often have a set of external ear covers available for every employee, an added expense that further dissuades the use of the external covers.
In addition to hearing and vision protection, another important safety consideration at an industrial work sight is communicability. Generally, workers carry a radio, or have some form of communication, such as a computer or a telephone near their work station. Unfortunately, however, workers can become quite isolated in the working environment, as their hearing protection blocks out all exterior noise including the phone or radio. Still, in an emergency it is very important that all of the workers communicate with one another so as to properly alert one another of dangers or shut downs, and so as to be aware of evacuations or other safety related notices.
Safety, however, is not the only reason businesses require communicability with their workers. Businesses also desire communicability to increase worker efficiency and productivity. In particular, if a worker is not informed, and/or cannot inform others of line shut downs, supply deliveries, and many other circumstances, a great deal of money can be lost in down time or defective production. For those reasons it is often vital that a worker be in communication with other workers at all times.
Presently in the art, businesses address the various safety and communicability considerations by issuing their employees separate radios, protective glasses, and ear plugs. Alternatively, some facilities attempt to use a computer work station monitor to provide worker's with a visual signal that they are being communicated with. Still, however, communication is a great inconvenience as workers must often remove their hearing protection to properly communicate. Further, even though some external head phone type ear covers, which provide for some communicability, are available, due to the previously described, expense, inconveniences and un-hygienic conditions associated with their use, those types of devices are not favored in the art and businesses must look to any available alternatives.
Accordingly, safety glasses, hearing protection, and communication devices are still commonly provided to workers separately, and the worker is called upon to manage all of the separate, and often incompatible devices as well as possible. Unfortunately, users who are able to simultaneously wear two or three separate devises find the combined use of the often incompatible apparatuses very inconvenient, bulky, and awkward for use on a day to day basis. Further, to ensure that a worker does not forget or misplace the often expensive equipment, in many instances some or all of the safety equipment, and especially the more expensive equipment such as the communication equipment and exterior head phone type covers, must be turned in each day and reissued the following morning. This practice frequently results in safety glasses, microphones, transmitters, and ear covers being lost, misplaced, or damaged during storage, as the use of several separate devices does not allow for easy convenient storage in one central location. As such, it is very difficult to keep track of all of the various types of safety equipment and a user still has no assurance that they are using all of their own equipment from day to day, a circumstance that is not only un-sanitary, but also can be quite inconvenient to a user who may have to re-size or otherwise adapt their equipment to their comfort requirements.
In the past, others in the arts relating to communication have attempted to provide devices which can transmit audible signals, while dampening exterior noise. These devices, however, tend to be adapted for a single user, do not provide precise communicability in loud industrial environments, and are quite expensive, making them ineffective for an industrial use wherein every worker is protected. For example, the patent to Woods (U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,364) discloses an ear acoustical attenuating device including a spiral type insert portion or a custom molded ear insert. Similarly, the patent to Wilcox, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,491) discloses an ear-mic headset which contains interior earplugs that fit into a user's ears. Such devices, however, are generally complex, are not suited for a multiple user situation wherein the same device must be shared, and are not cost effective to provide to each individual worker. Also, in the communication field, earphones such as the one provided in the patent to Yoshimi (U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,563) which include an elastic vibration generator/excitor coupled with a sound insulating plug that is structured to propagate the elastic wave therethrough are provided. This device, which has as a primary application the race car industry, does not disclose or suggest efficient, sanitary multi-person use, as the sound transmitting portion, namely the elastic wave propagating plug coupled with the excitor, is to be inserted completely into a user's ear cavity and is not contained such that all of it may become subject to perspiration or contamination. Indeed, such a device requires secure and precise configuration so as to ensure that the waves are effectively propagated through the plug, and as such does not provide for any disposability. Also, despite the generally loud race car environment, industrial environments can often be much louder with may more varied exterior noises such that a device such as Yoshimi's can tend to muffle the audio signal and may not provide sufficient clarity to contrast a large variety of exterior noises. Further, none of these communication devices truly address all of the safety needs that could be achieved by providing a single, ergonomically oriented, sanitary multi-user safety device.
Similarly, other devices in the past, such as the audio eyeglasses of da Silva (U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,345) and the ear protector of Sygnator (U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,526) have attempted to combine some devices. Unfortunately, however, such devices do not fully address a wearer's safety needs, do not address the sanitary considerations associated with a multi-user environment, and are not adapted for comfortable use in a multi-user environment as they are not easily adaptable for a precise fit on user's of different sizes. Specifically, most devices in the art relating to communication devices do not have to be structured around other types of protective equipment and can therefore be secured as part of an over the head mount which can be easily adjusted to a wearer's size without concern as to the position of the overhead mount so long as it supports the assembly.
Accordingly, there is still a need in the specialized art relating to safety equipment for a safety unit which will ensure that worker always has all of the necessary safety devices in a convenient to use array that may be easily and efficiently labeled and re-distributed to assigned employees, thus reducing waste, loss and inconvenience. Further, there is a need for a safety unit which ensures that a user is wearing all of the necessary hearing, vision and communication safety devices and which enables workers in a multi-user/multi-shift environment to effectively and safely share or pass on the safety unit as it is structured to provide quick and precise fitting on user's of varying sizes, complete safety protection and maximum hygiene from user to user as all reusable portions are concealed from direct contact with a wearer.
Moreover, it would be beneficial to provide such a device that provides the wearer with all of the associated benefits, including safety and hygiene, in an attractive appearing device that can be worn by the user in virtually any environment where protection of the eyes, such as from the sun, and protection of the hearing from external noises coupled with the ability to hear a particular desired audio signal clearly, is desirable.

Hearing protection and communication assembly


A method for supporting the establishment of a path for transmitting a message in a mesh network, wherein said message is to be transmitted from a source node in said mesh network to a destination node, via one or more intermediary nodes, in said mesh network. The method comprises the steps of receiving, by an intermediary node in said mesh network, a path discovery message originating from said source node in said mesh network, said path discovery message comprising a path quality parameter, updating, by said intermediary node, said path quality parameter based on a quality of link associated with a node from which said intermediary node received said path discovery message, and broadcasting, by said intermediary node, said path discovery message wherein said broadcasted path discovery message comprises said updated path quality parameter. A complementary method and corresponding node are also presented herein.

Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE, is a low-power, low-rate wireless communications technology operating in the unlicensed 2.4 Giga Hertz, GHz, Industrial Scientific and Medical, ISM, band. Typically, BLE nodes are inexpensive, but also constrained in terms of memory and computational resources.
Bluetooth Mesh networking is standardized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, SIG, and the first release of Bluetooth Mesh was published in July 2017. The solution is based on flooding using broadcasting over a set of shared channels—the advertising channels. Other networking forwarding mechanisms, such as routing, and other data transfer methods or bearers, may be introduced in future versions of the specification.
The Bluetooth Mesh specification builds on the physical layer and the link layer of the Bluetooth Core specification, and these layers are implemented in the BLE controller. Higher layers, like the Bluetooth Mesh network and transport layers, are defined in the Bluetooth Mesh specification and would typically be implemented in the host.
A node acting as a relay node in a Bluetooth mesh network scans for mesh messages. When a message is detected and received the node checks if it is the destination of the message. The message is later forwarded in the mesh network by re-transmitting it so that the neighbours of the node can receive it. By means of this distributed mechanism the message is forwarded from node to node(s) in the network so that the message arrives at the destination.
The 1.0 version of the Bluetooth mesh specification allows packets to traverse through the mesh network by means of what is referred to as flooding. This essentially means that all packets will be forwarded by all relays until the packet eventually reaches its destination. This method has some obvious drawbacks, mainly in terms of caused interference and energy performance, especially as the level of traffic in the network increases.
Subsequent versions of the mesh specifications are expected to implement mechanisms to limit packets to only be forwarded along specific paths towards the intended receiver(s), thus reducing the traffic congestion in directions where forwarding does not help improving the probability of successful delivery. Paths need to be ranked and then selected based on relevant metrics.
Bluetooth Mesh has a number of characteristics that make it different from other mesh technologies that, in turn, make it difficult to select an optimal path using existing methods. Some of these characteristics are the following:                Links are unreliable, that is, successfully received messages are not acknowledged by the recipient. This means that any method that assumes an acknowledged link may not be applied to Bluetooth mesh        In a Bluetooth mesh network, it is expected that the node population contains nodes with large variations in node capabilities, ranging from laptops and smartphones to sensors powered by coin cell batteries. These nodes may have significant differences in receiver sensitivities which is something that many existing methods do not account for.        Bluetooth Mesh utilizes a contention-based MAC scheme that does not involve any collision avoidance methods, such as "listen before talk" as used by Wi-Fi. This means that there is a significant risk for on-air collisions which can greatly affect the quality of a link.        Bluetooth Mesh relies on packet repetitions to increase the reliability of the system. The number of repetitions to use for a transmission is selected by the transmitting node. This makes the number of packet repetitions a crucial parameter to determine the quality of a link. Conventional methods of path discovery typically do not take this into account.
Most existing methods typically aim to minimize the number of hops to traverse the mesh network from source to destination or to simply choose the links based on channel quality measurements, such as RSSI. Neither of these metrics provide the full picture of the link candidates in order to be able to choose a link that is optimal, in the sense of largest data delivery rate.
In order to include data delivery rate, a widely used metric in mesh networking is the Expected Transmission Count, ETX. However, ETX relies on acknowledged links, whereas Bluetooth Mesh uses unacknowledged transmissions. Therefore a solution involving ETX cannot be used in BLE mesh.
Known methods do not consider the possibility of receivers with different characteristics, the possibility that messages are repeated over link to increase the reception probability, and the effect of interference on the measured quality of a link.

Model based path selection in a Bluetooth low energy, BLE, mesh network


A pin layout of a golden finger for FPC is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate; a first conductive layer, having a plurality of first routings; a second conductive layer, having a plurality of second routings; and a plurality of conductive members; wherein the first and the second conductive layers are formed respectively on the two opposite sides of the substrate in a manner that each first routing is electrically connected to its corresponding first pin, while disposing a plurality of second pins, without contacting to the first pins and the first routings, on the side of the substrate where the first conductive layer is disposed for corresponding each of the second pins to the extensions of the plural second routings; and the plural conductive members are disposed forming electric connections between the second routings and the second pins in respective.

Generally, the pin layout of any conventional FPC golden finger is manufactured basing upon the dimensions defined in it complementary connectors' specifications that are currently available on the market, especially for the dimensions specifications regarding to pin width and pin pitches. For mating a FPC golden finger with its complementary connector perfectly without causing any shortage between the contact pins of the connector and the internal pins of the golden finger, the pin layout of the golden finger must be manufactured with high accuracy and minimized tolerance.
Following the trend that more and more connectors are designed with more pins for connection, the size of the golden finger is increasing consequently. Despite of the increasing size, for ensuring no erroneous contact between neighboring pins while inserting a large-sized golden finger into its complementary connector, such golden finger must be manufactured with high accuracy especially for its pin layout. However, the cost for some manufacturers to maintain such high manufacturing accuracy is low production yield. On the other hand, the trade off for other manufacturers capable of maintaining such manufacturing accuracy is that the manufacturing cost of FPC with such golden fingers is increased. In addition, the alternating routings of the pins formed on the golden finger may be damaged or even broken while the FPC is bended by an external force.
Please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, which are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a conventional pin layout of a golden finger for flexible printed circuitboard. From top to bottom that the golden finger 1 is configured with a protective layer 10, a copper layer 11, a substrate 12, another copper layer 13, another protective layer 14, and a stiffening plate 15. It is noted that the interlaced pins on the golden finger 1 for mating with its complementary connector is formed by the etching of the copper layer 11, whereas the pins 111 are odd-numbered pins while the pins 112 are even-numbered pins. As shown in FIG. 1A, portions of those odd-numbered pins 111, as the portion 1110 enclosed by the dotted line for illustration, are narrowed to be arranged alternating with the even-numbered pins 112. However, since the aforesaid pin layout is without exception that it is troubled by the conventional problems regarding to manufacture accuracy and pin width, such thin routings at the portions 1110 can either be damaged or even broken while the FPC is bended by an external force, or cause shortage as they are easy to contact erroneously with their neighboring pins.
Please refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, which are a top view and a cross-sectional view of another conventional pin layout of a golden finger for flexible printed circuitboard. From top to bottom that the golden finger 2 is configured with a protective layer 20, a copper layer 21, a substrate 22, another copper layer 23, another protective layer 24, and a stiffening plate 25. It is noted that the pins of the golden finger 2, including the odd-numbered pins 211 and even-numbered pins 212, are formed by an electroplating means. Similarly, portions of those odd-numbered pins 211, as the portion 2110 as well as the thin lines formed in front of those pins enclosed by the dotted line for illustration, are narrowed to be arranged alternating with the even-numbered pins 212. However, since the aforesaid pin layout is without exception that it is troubled by the conventional problems regarding to manufacture accuracy and pin width, such thin routings at the portions 2110 can either be damaged or even broken while the FPC is bended by an external force, or cause shortage as they are easy to contact erroneously with their neighboring pins
Therefore, it is in need of a FPC golden finger having pin layout with multi-layered routings.

Pin layout of a golden finger for flexible printed circuitboard


Device for pinpointing lesions detected in a breast comprising. an anchoring means comprising one or more flexible and elastic elements which are capable of assuming a linear form during positioning and of deforming once in place, and PA1 at least one wire of a length which is at least equal to a depth of implantation of the anchoring means within the breast.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device which can be used in surgery, and more particularly to a device for pinpointing small suspect lesions of the breast, such as micro-calcifications, with a view to their optimized ablation by surgical means, as well as to an apparatus for positioning it.
(ii) Description of Related Art
Screening for breast cancers is normally done by mammography, since this technique permits detection of lesions of small dimensions, such as micro-calcifications. It is then necessary to remove tissues from the mammary gland in order to analyze them and verify their possible cancerous nature. This removal is generally done by surgical means, or by biopsy, or else by needle puncture.
The practitioner (surgeon) normally pinpoints the suspect lesions on mammography images by taking the nipple of the breast as a reference point, and uses the frontal and profile measurements in order to determine approximately the position of the lesion from which a sample is to be taken.
One of the main difficulties encountered by practitioners is that of locating the lesion which has been detected by mammography. This is because the position of the breast is very different during mammography (frontal and profile), where the patient is in a seated position, the breast pressed between two plates, and during the operating phase where the patient is generally lying on her back on an operating table.
The result of this is that the mammography reference markers do not correspond precisely to the actual position of the lesion during the removal operation, regardless of whether this is done by surgery, by biopsy or by puncture. Now, the lesions consisting of micro-calcifications are often incipient and noninvasive cancers of small dimensions, the diameter of which is of the order of magnitude of millimeters and does not exceed 1 cm. These lesions do not present any particular consistency or coloration. Pinpointing them is therefore difficult, even after mammography from several angles, for example frontal and profile.
In practice, the surgeon is forced to make an estimate and remove a relatively large volume of breast tissue susceptible of containing the suspect lesion. The sample removed is then checked by X-ray to verify the presence of the micro-calcifications, and then analyzed on the spot by a specialist (anatomical pathologist).
Despite all the precautions taken during these operations, it is very often discovered, subsequently, that there are micro-calcifications still remaining in the breast. These micro-calcifications are detected during mammographs performed several weeks after the operation described hereinabove. It is then often necessary to perform another operation.
Because of these difficulties, and in order to avoid having to perform several operations in succession, the surgeon is compelled to remove much greater quantities of tissue than would be necessary if the lesions detected by mammography could thereafter be pinpointed with good reliability and satisfactory precision. Moreover, the surgeon cannot be certain that all the micro-calcifications have been removed other than by broadening the ablation of tissues excessively, which can additionally have a considerably adverse esthetic and psychological impact on the patient.
Various devices have been proposed in an attempt to overcome these difficulties. For example, patent FR-A-2,660,545 describes biopsy equipment in association with mammography from two angles with the aid of a rotating head taking the images, this equipment being intended to locate suspect lesions corresponding to incipient cancers. However, this equipment is complex and its use is not very convenient for the patient.
Patent FR-A-2,666,217 describes a device for stereotaxic pinpointing and puncturing of a lesion of small dimensions, detected by mammography, by means of a trocar or needle for aspiration biopsy. This device is designed to permit two X-ray images to be taken from two different angles, the patient's breast being pressed between two plates, one of which includes a zone for access to the breast, as well as a support for vertical guidance of a puncture needle, the movement of which is determined as a function of the results of the detection of the lesion using the mammography images. This device necessitates immobilizing the patient's breast between the two plates, not only during the mammography, but also during the operation of puncturing and analysis of the removed sample, that is to say for a prolonged period of time, which is not conducive to the patient's comfort.
Patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,084 describes a device for pinpointing lesions in a tissue, comprising a flexible radiopaque wire having at least two markers which are detectable by palpation and which are intended to allow the surgeon to determine the position of the end of the wire without needing to trace it in its entirety.
Patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,356 describes an anchoring device for biopsy, comprising a needle whose point is in the form of a double hook and whose rod includes threading for the positioning of a blocking piece against the surface of the skin.
Patent application WO-A-90/15576 describes an apparatus for positioning a pinpointing device, comprising an anchoring means of helical shape fixed on a rod which is capable of being set in rotation inside a hollow needle for the purpose of inserting the anchoring means in the tissues.

Device for pinpointing suspect lesions of the breast and apparatus for positioning it


A highly reliable semiconductor device in which connection reliability is assured at very small vias comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a first wiring structure placed on the semiconductor substrate and having one or more first wiring layers, one or more insulating layers and a first via; a second wiring structure placed on the first wiring structure and having one or more second wiring layers, one or more second insulating layers, a second via and a third via; and an external terminal provided on the second wiring structure. The second via, which is connected to the second wiring layer of the second wiring structure and to the external terminal, has a connection interface disposed at an end of the via that is on the side of the external terminal.

Electronic devices have been reduced in size and improved in functionality in recent years, and this has been accompanied by demand for size reduction and higher wiring density with regard to semiconductor chips as well. For example, with regard to a microprocessor designed according to the 90-nm rule, a clock frequency of several gigahertz and a driving current of 100 A have been attained, and further improvements in capability using conventional wiring techniques are approaching their limit. In order to realize a microprocessor in which the clock frequency exceeds 10 GHz and the driving current reaches several hundred amperes, a wiring technique of an entirely new structure is required. In particular, in the case of a semiconductor chip capable of high-speed operation, an increase in power distribution capability (wiring capacity) is sought as means for strengthening the power supply circuit serving as the source of power. On the other hand, in the case of high-speed signals, reducing parasitic capacitance produced between a signal pad and power supply circuit is important in terms of preventing a deterioration in signal characteristics. In order to improve supply of power and signal characteristics, there is need for a wafer-level re-wiring technique for fabrication on a semiconductor chip by a wiring technique different from that of the semiconductor chip.
An insulating material referred to as a "low-k material", in which the specific inductivity is 2.5 or below, is now being employed in semiconductor devices. Further, lead-free solder materials are now being employed as the material of solder balls in view of effects upon the environment. However, a low-k material has a mechanical strength, such as hardness and elastic modulus, lower than that of silicon oxide, silicon nitride and silicon oxonitride, etc., which have been used heretofore as silicon-based elements. Further, in comparison with the conventional Pb—Sn eutectic solder material, a lead-free solder material has a poor creep characteristic. The creep characteristic indicates the ease of deformation of a material. Consequently, the amount of deformation of solder balls per se following the hardening thereof is small and residual stress within the solder balls is large.
Thus, in a semiconductor device using a low-k material and lead-free solder balls, residual stress within the solder balls produced at the time of packaging and thermal stress produced at the time of use can cause breakage at connections that include solder balls, or brittle fracture, exfoliation and cracking of the low-k material, which has a low mechanical strength, and it may be difficult to assure reliability when the package is assembled or put to practice use.
Conventionally, a semiconductor chip is mounted on a mounting substrate such as a printed board or built-up substrate and is used as a semiconductor device (package). An FCBGA (Flipchip Ball Grid Array) package or wafer-level CSP (Chip-Size Package) is known as such a semiconductor device. Various techniques are used to mitigate thermal stress in these packages.
The FCBGA is mainly used in applications that require stable supply of power supply voltage and support of high-speed signals. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for connecting a semiconductor chip to a BGA substrate using a solder bump and filling the device with an underfill resin in order to protect the small solder-bump connection. In accordance with Patent Document 1, it is possible to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device having a BGA structure in which severance at the solder bump and exfoliation of the semiconductor chip do not occur even if thermal stress is produced by thermal expansion.
Further, a wafer-level CSP formed to have a size substantially the same as that of a semiconductor chip is mainly used in small electronic devices such as mobile telephones and digital cameras. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for providing a layer having a low elastic modulus on a semiconductor chip and providing an external electrode terminal on this layer. In accordance with Patent Document 2, stress that acts upon metal balls can be mitigated by thus providing the layer having the low elastic modulus below the metal balls. Further, by providing the surface of the semiconductor chip with the metal balls spaced far away from the pads, stress produced in the metal balls can be prevented from propagating to the semiconductor chip connected to the pads.
Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for directly providing a semiconductor element with a wiring layer for the purpose of furnishing a connection reliability greater than that of an FCBGA. In accordance with Patent Document 3, a resin substrate having a highly rigid core material is provided for an external terminal in a semiconductor device incorporating a semiconductor chip, thereby improving the long-term reliability of the package.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-11-74417
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-11-204560
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2002-246500A
[Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-10-51105
[Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-9-64493
[Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-6-334334

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same


A child-resistant, wick-based liquid emanation system includes a container which is capable of containing liquid and has an opening. A wick is partially disposed within the container and extends through the opening of the container. A hollow overcap encases the extended portion of the wick and has a closed, separable tip and an open base attached to cover the opening of the container. The system is activated by separating the tip from the overcap. A retainer may be provided for obstructing complete removal of the wick from the container through the overcap after the tip is separated from the overcap. The retainer can include a shoulder disposed in the overcap between the tip and the base to retain the wick toward the base of the overcap. Alternatively, a protrusion from the wick can engage an inner surface of the overcap or the container. In this case, the overcap can have a frangible portion facilitating separation of the tip, and the wick can extend past the frangible portion toward the tip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wick-based liquid emanation systems, and more particularly to (i) a wick-based liquid emanation system having a child-resistant overcap, and (ii) a child-resistant overcap for use with the wick-based liquid emanation system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wick-based liquid emanation systems are known in the art for dispersing into the air vaporized particles of any number of liquids. Such systems are often used in the home with liquids varying from insect repellent to air freshener. Typically, in such systems, one end of a wick is partially submerged in the liquid to be dispersed. The liquid is contained in any suitable container. The partially submerged portion of the wick absorbs the liquid, some of which diffuses by capillary or wicking action into the exposed, unsubmerged portion of the wick. The exposed portion of the wick is locally heated, often by means of a ring-shaped heater which fits over the wick. This causes the liquid which has diffused into the exposed portion of the wick to molecularize or evaporate into the surrounding air. Continual application of heat to the exposed portion of the wick results in an evaporation/absorption process that continues until the liquid is consumed.
A problem with conventional wick-based liquid emanation systems, as with many products suitable for home use, is the potential that a child will come into contact with the liquid contents of the system. For example, this can occur when the child tampers with the system or if the system is accidentally tipped over, the contents spilled and left for the child to discover. Many of the liquids utilized with such systems can be harmful if ingested, and some are harmful if merely contacted. Therefore, it is desirable to make these systems "child-resistant" and "spill-resistant" to reduce the chance that a child will access the potentially harmful contents of the system.
An additional concern is the potential that the contents of the system will be prematurely lost through spillage or evaporation. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a sealed system in which the contents are retained inside prior to use.
In addition, it is desirable that the system provide some indication as to whether it has been opened, alerting users to the potential that some of the contents may have been spilled or otherwise depleted.
One possible approach is to provide a dispenser cap that protects the contents of the system prior to use or that regulates access to the contents during use, or both. Many attempts have been made to develop child-resistant or tamper-evident dispenser caps for use with various products.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,859 ("the '859 patent") to G. Stull, entitled "Non-resealable Dispenser Cap Construction", shows a non-resealable dispenser cap for use with hand-held dispensers. The cap has an elongated tapered, stepped hollow spout with a discharge orifice. A closure cap having a transverse closure wall is mounted on the spout. The transverse wall engages and closes over the discharge orifice. With the closure cap so mounted, the transverse closure wall is distorted and biased by its engagement with the wall of the discharge orifice. Either the closure cap or the spout is formed with two oppositely-disposed frangible tabs which overlie and are permanently attached to the other. Each tab has a zone of weakness that can be readily ruptured by rotating either the cap or the spout.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,930,063 ("the '063 patent") to M. Stull, entitled "Dispensing Cap for Containers", shows a flexible plastic applicator cap for use with small hand-held containers. The cap has a body adapted to be attached to the container. A hollow, cylindrical spout is integral with and extends an appreciable distance from the body. The tip of the spout has a transversely disposed, annular, external end face making an acute angle with the spout's axis, having a discharge orifice surrounded by the surface of the end face and having a stopper formed with walls of reduced thickness at its base. The walls are integral with the spout and project from the end face thereof. The cap may be readily cut or torn. Thereby, the stopper (at the reduced walls thereof) is severed from the spout to reveal the discharge orifice. The stopper has an extremity of reduced diameter for closing the orifice.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,858 ("the '858 patent") to Biedenstein, entitled "Tear Type Container Closure", shows a container closure which is integrally connected to the container by a frangible connection. The closure may be separated from the container by a pull on the closure. This tears the frangible connection, but leaves a major portion of the material of the frangible connection attached either to the closure or the container where it will be active as a temporary resealing means between the closure and the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,911 ("the '911 patent") to Larkin et al., entitled "Container and Closure Construction", shows a thin flexible fluid-tight cover of PVC bonded to a rigid port of a diluent container for use in medicinal applications and which is to be subjected to heat sterilization. The cover includes an outer flange for bonding to a complementary surface around the port, and a removable section for spanning the port. The removable section includes a central flexible diaphragm and a cylindrical wall. The diaphragm is axially expandable by flexing of an annular convolution. A frangible tear line joins the cylindrical wall to the outer flange. The cylindrical wall is disposed adjacent the outer surfaces of an abutment wall on the port to provide stress relief against rupture of the tear line from stresses generated in the cover during sterilization. A pull ring attached to a narrow post is located adjacent the wall for concentrating manual pulling forces to a limited segment of the tear line.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,695 ("the '695 patent") to Luch et al., entitled "Spout Fitment Closure Plug", shows a spout fitment adapted to be attached to and surround a hole in a container, particularly a paperboard carton or other flexible container. The spout fitment has internal threads and an external flange which seals around the hole and is fixed to the container by thermal means, adhesive or the like. A cap has a top disk from which an externally threaded skirt depends. The lower edge of the skirt seals against a sealing membrane on the spout. Surrounding the skirt is a tamper-evident band attached to the lower edges of gripping ribs by frangible bridges. The tamper-evident band has a locking device engaging a complementary locking device on the fitment. Thus, the cap cannot be unscrewed without removing the tamper-evident band.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,440 ("the '440 patent") to Gross, entitled "Closure with Tamper-evident Tear-off Panel with a Flow Control Element", shows a container closure which includes a body for mounting on the container. The body defines a dispensing orifice. A flow control device, such as a lid, is disposed on the body and moved between positions opening and closing the dispensing orifice. A tamper-indicating member is connected by a first frangible web to the lid. An anchor is connected with a second frangible web to another portion of the tamper-indicating member, and the anchor is retained by the closure body. The tamper-indicating member also includes a graspable pull tab, which can be pulled to completely sever the frangible webs, permitting the lid to be opened while providing evidence of tampering with the closure.
A problem with these cap configurations, however, is that they are not particularly suited for use with a liquid emanation system which employs a wick. Nor do they provide "child-resistant" or "spill-resistant" closures for such wick-based liquid emanation systems.
Additionally, the foregoing configurations do not address a further problem which is often encountered with such wick-based liquid emanation systems, namely, the condensation that can accumulate on the heating mechanism and other parts of the system due to excess emanation. If the wick extends a considerable length above the liquid, emanation will occur over the entire length, often leading to condensation of excess moisture on the heating device and the remainder of the system, which is inconvenient and can be potentially damaging. One possible solution to this problem would be to limit the length by which the wick extends from the liquid. However, if the wick only extends slightly above the surface of the liquid, then it becomes very difficult to heat the wick without heating the liquid reservoir as well. This can lead to additional problems such as direct evaporation of the liquid.
Accordingly, there is a need for a wick-based liquid emanation system, and for a closure for use with a wick-based liquid emanation system, which overcome these and other drawbacks.
There is also a need to provide a closure for use with a wick-based liquid emanation system that is particularly suited to resist tampering or access by children. (Hereinafter, a wick-based liquid emanation system and closure therefor will collectively be referred to as a "system.")
There is a further need for such a system which indicates whether the system has been opened.
There is yet another need in the art for such a system which controls the rate of liquid emanation from the system.
There is an additional need in the art for such a system which can be inexpensively manufactured.

Wick-based liquid emanation system with child-resistant overcap


Electronic packages are provided with enhanced heat dissipation capabilities. The electronic package includes a plurality of electronic components, and an enclosure in which the electronic components reside. The enclosure includes a thermally conductive cover overlying the electronic components. At least one heat transfer element is coupled to, or integrated with, the thermally conductive cover and resides between a main surface of the cover and at least one respective electronic component of the plurality of electronic components. A thermal interface material is disposed between the heat transfer element(s) and the respective electronic component(s), and facilitates conductive transfer of heat from the electronic component(s) to the thermally conductive cover through the heat transfer element(s). The thermally conductive cover facilitates spreading and dissipating of the transferred heat outwards, for instance, through a surrounding tamper-respondent sensor and/or a surrounding encapsulant.

In one or more implementations, an electronic package may be configured as a tamper-proof electronic package. Many activities require secure electronic communications. To facilitate secure electronic communications, an encryption/decryption system may be implemented on an electronic assembly or printed circuit board assembly that is included in equipment connected to a communications network. Such an electronic assembly is an enticing target for malefactors since it may contain codes or keys to decrypt intercepted messages, or to encode fraudulent messages. To prevent this, an electronic assembly may be mounted in an enclosure, which is then wrapped in a security mesh, and impregnated with polyurethane resin. A security mesh may be, in one or more embodiments, a web or sheet of insulating material with circuit elements, such as closely-spaced, conductive lines fabricated on it. The circuit elements are disrupted if the mesh is torn, and the mesh can be sensed in order to generate an alarm signal. The alarm signal may be conveyed to a monitor circuit in order to reveal an attack on the integrity of the assembly. The alarm signal may also trigger an erasure of encryption/decryption keys stored within the electronic assembly.
In the above configuration, the electronic package, or tamper-proof electronic package, represents one example of a sealed enclosure containing electronic components. As power dissipation of electronic components continues to increase in order to increase performance, cooling becomes more of a challenge at both the component level, as well as the system/assembly level.

Electronic package with heat transfer element(s)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A skid plate for mounting on the end of a boat trailer and bunk includes a lip which depends from the main body of the plate for abutment with the rearward end of the bunk to protect the bunk and the hull of the boat being loaded onto or off of the trailer. The skid plates include an inclined forward portion to facilitate boat hull passage over the plate.

The present invention concerns generally trailers for small boats which are loaded and unloaded from the rear end of the trailer.
Small boat trailers often include lengthwise extending bunks on which a boat is slid into place for travel and conversely, slid into the water during a launching operation. Boat trailer bunks often are provided with resilient material to protect the boat hull from being marred by the trailer bunk. The loading and launching of a boat from a trailer subjects the trailer bunks to considerable wear. To alleviate such wear, high density synthetic material with a low coefficient of friction have been utilized on the trailer bunks. Accordingly both loading of a boat onto a boat trailer as well as launching of a boat from a boat trailer is greatly facilitated.
A problem occurs when the boat being loaded initially contacts the ends or end of a bunk. Any material thereon is subjected to loads imparted by the boat hull. A further problem encountered by boat owners in the loading of a small boat on a trailer is the task of aligning the center line of the boat with that of the trailer during retrieving or loading of the boat onto the trailer. Lateral displacement of the boat hull during such alignment is oftime difficult by reason of the hull being in contact with a bunk end from which it must be displaced inwardly toward the trailer center line prior to further loading effort. In the prior art plates of high density material for attachment to a bunk which facilitates travel of the boat hull lengthwise of the trailer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,383 discloses such plates in place on a boat trailer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,738 discloses a boat trailer having a tiltable bunk provided with rollers at each end of the bunk to facilitate loading and unloading of a boat hull.

Skid plate for installation on a boat trailer bunk