An electric bending endoscope comprises a bending portion arranged to an inserting portion, a bending driving unit and a buffering member. The bending driving unit bends the bending portion, and includes a motor, a first unit and a second unit. The motor generates driving force for bending the bending portion. The first unit holds the motor. The second unit includes a driving force transmitting member. The buffering member connects the first unit to an outer member of the inserting portion, a connecting code and a switch. The buffering member absorbs external force generated during the operation of the electric bending endoscope.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric bending endoscope which electrically bends a bending portion of an inserting portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an endoscope is widely used. Various curing treatments are performed by inserting an elongated inserting portion in the celom so as to observe the organ in the celom or by using a treatment tool inserted in a therapeutic instrument channel as needed. In the industrial field, the endoscope observes and examines inner scratches and corrosion of a steam generator, a turbine, an engine and a chemical plant by inserting an elongated inserting portion.
The endoscope has a bending portion which is freely bent on a base end side of an edge portion in the elongated inserting portion. Further, the endoscope receives an instruction as the amount of bending, corresponding to a bending position or a bending speed of the bending portion, by means for inputting a bending operation such as a bending operation lever or a joystick arranged to an operating portion. In the endoscope, a bending operation wire is mechanically stretched or contracted based on the amount of bending inputted as the instruction so as to bend the bending portion.
The above-mentioned endoscope includes an electric bending endoscope in views of the operability. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2-159243 discloses one of the above-mentioned electric bending endoscopes, in which a built-in motor as bending driving means is controlled for rotation, the motor's driving force enables a bending operation wire to stretch or contract, and the bending portion is electrically bent.
In the electric bending endoscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2-159243, a bending operation device unit is integrally formed by connecting, to a main frame as a main frame member and a subframe, the motor as the bending operation means, a sprocket as a rotator for the stretch operation which transmits the motor's driving force to the bending operation wire, and the entire bending and stretch mechanism forming portions such as a transmission gear train. Further, the bending operation device unit is enclosed in the operating portion.
Similarly to the electric bending endoscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2-159243, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 4-256724 discloses an electric bending endoscope in which a bending operation device unit is integrally formed by connecting, to a main frame and the like, a bending and stretch mechanism forming portions and the bending operation device unit is enclosed in the operating portion. The electric bending endoscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 4-256724 accomplishes an object of the present invention to provide the electric bending endoscope which can accurately sets a locking state and a free state with the compact size, light weight, and simple structure.


In a method of an MRAM device, first and second patterns are formed on a substrate alternately and repeatedly in a second direction. Each first pattern and each second pattern extend in a first direction perpendicular to the second direction. Some of the second patterns are removed to form first openings extending in the first direction. Source lines filling the first openings are formed. A mask is formed on the first and second patterns and the source lines. The mask includes second openings in the first direction, each of which extends in the second direction. Portions of the second patterns exposed by the second openings are removed to form third openings. Third patterns filling the third openings are formed. The second patterns surrounded by the first and third patterns are removed to form fourth openings. Contact plugs filling the fourth openings are formed.

Example embodiments relate to semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same. More particularly, example embodiments relate to magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) devices and methods of manufacturing the same.
MRAM devices may include contact plugs and source lines that are electrically connected to a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structures. The contact plugs and the source lines may be formed to have a small size and to be adjacent to each other due to the decrease of a design rule.

Methods of manufacturing magnetoresistive random access memory devices


A shock absorber demonstrating temperature conscious damping includes an auxiliary valve for passing damping fluid between the compression side and the rebound side. The auxiliary valve opens at lower temperatures and closes at higher temperatures. The valve includes an axial channel formed partially through a piston rod that terminates in a side hole on the rebound side of the piston. Movably fitted within the channel is a sliding rod valve that is movable between an open position which allows passage of the damping fluid and a closed position which prohibits passage. The valve is tubular and includes a hole formed in its side at one end. A steel spring is positioned between the blind end of the channel and the sliding rod valve. A tubular sleeve is fitted in the channel on the compression side of the piston. Between the tubular sleeve and the rod valve is positioned a spring formed from a shape memory alloy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shock absorbers capable of responding to changes in fluid viscosity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shock absorber that is temperature conscious and is thus responsive to changes in operating temperatures. The shock absorber of the present invention is accordingly highly sensitive to temperature variations and compensates for changes in oil viscosity throughout the normal range of ambient temperatures through the use of a valve system that incorporates a spring produced from a shape memory alloy.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Shock absorbers are used in connection with automobile suspension systems and other vehicle suspension systems to absorb unwanted vibrations which occur during locomotion. To absorb this unwanted vibration, shock absorbers are generally connected between the body and the suspension of the automobile.
The most common type of shock absorber in automobiles is the dashpot type in which a piston is located within the shock absorber and is connected to the vehicle body through a piston rod. Because the piston is available to limit the flow of damping fluid within the working chamber of the shock absorber when the shock absorber is compressed or extended, the shock vibration which would otherwise be transmitted from the suspension of the automobile to the body is absorbed by the shock absorber.
A conventional shock absorber comprises a pressure tube with a piston therein and a reserve tube surrounding the pressure tube. A piston rod connected to the piston projects from one end of the pressure tube. At the other end of the pressure tube is a valve communicating with the reserve tube. Damping is controlled by orifices in the piston which regulate passage of fluid from one side of the piston to the other.
The use of a viscous oil as the damping fluid causes the damping and rebound times of known shock absorbers to change at different temperatures. The oil is more viscous at cooler temperatures than at warmer temperatures. Accordingly, the fluid flow through the various orifices in the piston is slower at cold temperatures than at warm temperatures, thus resulting in less responsive damping and rebounding characteristics. This situation is problematic as heat is produced from the energy of the moving mass of the vehicle. While much of this heat is dissipated by radiation and conduction, the damping fluid itself absorbs some of it, thus becoming less viscous. Seasonal ambient air temperatures also have an impact on damping fluid viscosity.
Various attempts have been made over the years to eliminate or minimize the problem of temperature-influenced changes in the characteristics of the shock absorber. One approach is to allow for mechanical adjusting of the shock absorber, such as that embodied in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,706, issued to Richardson et al. on Sep. 25, 1990, for ADJUSTABLE SHOCK ABSORBERS. The drawback with this mechanically adjustable approach is that the operator must physically make the necessary adjustments to compensate for the change in fluid temperature.
Other approaches included "automatic" responses built into the shock absorbers by relatively complex valve systems incorporated in the piston member itself. Examples of these approaches include U.S. Pat. No. 2,111,192, issued on Mar. 15, 1938 to Padgett for SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS, U.S. Pat. No. 3,107,752, issued on Oct. 22, 1963, to McLean for TEMPERATURE COMPENSATED VISCOUS DAMPER, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,921, issued on Nov. 22, 1988, to Hosan et al. for TEMPERATURE-COMPENSATING HYDRAULIC POSITIONER. While providing some level of "automation" thus eliminating dependence on the operator to make the correction, these designs are in generally overly-complex and do not provide direct temperature compensation.
In an effort to provide a mechanism which more directly responds to changes in temperature, U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,065, issued on Apr. 21, 1992, to Staton et al. for SELF-BLOCKING GAS SPRING WITH TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE BYPASS VALVE, provides a self-blocking gas spring having a temperature responsive bypass valve. A bimetallic disk is used to open and close a port depending on the temperature of the disk itself. If the temperature is low, the disk assumes a flat shape, closing the port and preventing the damping fluid from flowing through the bypass valve. If the temperature is high, the disk is warmed and assumes a curved shape which opens the port and allows the damping fluid to flow through the bypass valve. While having improved temperature-responsive characteristics, this system is relatively complex and requires extensive modification of known shock absorbers.
Accordingly, a shock absorber that is reliably and fully temperature responsive while utilizing a minimum number of components is wanting. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a shock absorber in which changes in temperature do not affect compression or rebound characteristics.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorber that incorporates an auxiliary valve that opens as oil viscosity increases and closes as oil viscosity decreases.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a shock absorber in which the auxiliary valve is positionable between being fully opened and being fully closed and may be opened to any degree therebetween.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a valve having such a valve that utilizes a spring composed of a shape memory alloy.
A shock absorber according to the present invention comprises compression side to rebound side valves. In addition to these valves, an auxiliary valve is provided and includes an axial channel formed partially through the piston rod that terminates approximately in a side hole on the rebound side of the piston. Movably fitted within the channel is a sliding rod valve that is movable between an open position which allows passage of the damping fluid and a closed position which prohibits passage. The valve is tubular and includes a hole formed in its side at one end. A steel spring is positioned between the blind end of the channel and the sliding rod valve. A tubular sleeve is fitted in the channel on the compression side of the piston. Between the tubular sleeve and the rod valve is positioned a spring formed from a shape memory alloy.
At cooler temperatures the length of the shape memory alloy spring is contracted and the steel spring acts against the sliding rod valve to move the hole formed in its lower side in general alignment with the hole formed in the piston rod on the rebound side. As temperatures rise the length of the shape memory alloy spring increases, thus overcoming the resistive forces of the steel spring and pushing the slidable rod valve gradually toward the blind end of the channel so that the hole of the rod valve is gradually moved out of alignment with the hole in the side of the rod.
Thus the present invention provides a temperature-sensitive auxiliary flow path which allows damping fluid to bypass to varying degrees the normal rebound side to compression side flow of damping fluid as the fluid's viscosity changes.


The present invention is directed to a precast girder that is used as the outer-most lateral girder in a bridge superstructure. In one embodiment, the girder is comprised of a first flange, a second flange that is separated from the first flange, and a web that connects the first flange to the second flange so that the resulting combination of the first flange, second flange, and web generally has an I-beam cross-section. The girder further includes an edge portion that is connected to the second flange and extends away from the first and second flanges.

The main elements of the type of bridge to which the invention is directed are: (a) a substructure; and (b) a superstructure.
A substructure is comprised of (1) foundations and (2) piers. The foundations are the components of the substructure that engage or interact with the earth to support the bridge structure. A foundation can be constructed of one or more piles, one or more concrete drilled shafts, one or more concrete mats, and combinations thereof. Presently, piles include precast concrete piles and steel piles. The piers are the components of the substructure that transfer the bridge structural loads to the foundations. A pier can be constructed of columns, struts, pile caps, pier caps, and combinations thereof. Presently, columns include cast in place columns, precast concrete columns, and steel columns.
A superstructure carries the traffic load (vehicular, rail, and/or pedestrian) on the bridge. A superstructure can be constructed using girders that each typically span the distance between two adjacent piers. Presently, girders include precast concrete girders, cast in place girders, precast concrete box girders, segmental box girders, steel girders, and steel box girders. Some superstructures use two or more different types of girders.
Presently, there are several methods of constructing a bridge comprised of a substructure and a superstructure (hereinafter referred to as a "bridge") in situations in which there is limited access from the ground. Characteristic of each method is the use of one or more conventional cranes that are each capable of rotating a boom about horizontal and vertical axes to either move an element of bridge into place or manipulate a tool that is used in constructing the bridge. One method employs a crane that is positioned on top of and near the end of the existing superstructure to position a pile driver and a pile beyond the end of the superstructure so that the pile can be driven into the earth to form the next foundation. Typically, a second crane is used to provide piles to the pile driver associated with the first crane, construct the pier that engages the pile or piles of the foundation established by the first crane, and construct the, either alone or in combination with the first crane, the superstructure. A drawback associated with this method is that the piers must be spaced relatively close together due to the construction loads imposed upon the bridge by the crane, the pile driver, and the pile.
Another method for constructing a bridge when the bridge is being built over a watercourse or wetland involves using a temporary structure that extends outside the footprint of the resulting bridge to support cranes and the like that are used in constructing the bridge and, in particular, the substructure of the bridge. In many case, the temporary support structure adversely affects the portions of the watercourse or wetland that are outside the footprint of the bridge. Typically, the temporary support structure supports a first crane to which a pile driver has been attached, a second crane for loading a pile into the pile driver associated with the first crane, a third crane for constructing a pier on each of the foundations established by the first and second cranes, and a fourth crane for putting the girders in place between adjacent piers. In some cases, the third and/or fourth crane are replaced with a moveable gantry or truss that spans the distance between at least two adjacent piers and is located above and substantially parallel to the superstructure to construct the piers and establish girders between adjacent piers.
Also associated with the construction of bridges is the attachment of L-shaped form to the outer-most lateral girders and the subsequent pouring of concrete into the forms to establish an L-shaped concrete member along the lateral edges of the superstructure. These L-shaped members typically facilitate the establishment of barriers along the lateral edges of the superstructure and serve to contain the concrete or other fluid material that is used to establish the superstructure deck.

Method and apparatus for bridge construction


Methods and computer-readable media are provided for assisting with the creation of an extensible markup language (“XML”) path language (“XPath”) expression. According to one aspect, an application program for editing XSLT stylesheets provides a user interface that assists with the creation and editing of XPath expressions. When an XPath expression is being created, a user interface is displayed that includes the valid XPath tokens for the expression being created. As characters are entered into the expression, the valid XPath tokens are continually identified for the expression and the contents of the user interface control are updated. If one of the items displayed in the user interface control is selected, the XPath token corresponding to the selected item is inserted into the XPath expression.

Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations ("XSLT") is an Extensible Markup Language ("XML")-based language used for the transformation of XML documents. XSLT is processed by an XSLT processor that takes two input files: an XML source document and an XSLT stylesheet file containing the XSLT program text. The XSLT processor reads the XSLT stylesheet file and the XML source document and, based upon the XSLT program text, retrieves portions of the XML source document, transforms them, and sends them to an output file. The output file may be XML, hyper-text markup language ("HTML"), plain text, or any other format that the XSLT processor is capable of producing.
In order to identify subsets of the source document, certain XSLT tags include attributes that are specified using the XML Path Language ("XPath"). XPath is a query language for addressing portions of an XML document. This allows consumers of XML to query the XML source document and directly access any part of the XML contained therein. XPath expressions can address a single word or character within an XML source document, or can refer to entire sections of the XML source document at once.
XPath derives its name from its use of a path notation for navigating through the hierarchical structure of an XML source document. In addition to providing functionality for addressing parts of an XML document, XPath also provides basic facilities for manipulation of strings, numbers, and Booleans. XPath uses a compact, non-XML syntax to facilitate use of XPath within Uniform Resource Identifiers ("URIs") and XML attribute values. XPath operates on the abstract, logical structure of an XML document.
Due to the complexity of XPath and its syntax, XPath expressions are often very complex. As a result, it is frequently difficult to create XPath expressions that are both syntactically correct and that return the desired portion of the XML source document, especially when the XPath expressions are created manually. It is also frequently difficult to debug XPath expressions that are syntactically incorrect or that do not return the desired portion of the XML source document.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure made herein is provided.

Providing assistance with the creation of an XPath expression


An ink for ink-jet recording apparatuses containing water and a pigment dispersion is provided in which a penetrating agent containing an alkane diol having 8 or 9 carbon atoms and a surfactant consisting of a compound represented by the following general formula (I) are blended in predetermined amounts.

In recent years, highly precise and fine image quality comparative to silver salt photography can be taken along with rapid progress of recording technology; therefore, ink-jet recording apparatuses for forming images using an ink-jet recording system have been widely used as image forming apparatuses.
Concerning these ink-jet recording apparatuses, there is a strong desire to further increase image forming speed while maintaining image quality thereof. However, in the case of performing image formation at high speed using an ink-jet recording apparatus, the recording medium will be discharged by passing through the pair of discharge rollers prior to the ink penetrating the recording medium such as paper, whereby the ink may adhere to the discharge rollers (offset). In this case, the ink having adhered to the discharge rollers will adhere to the recording medium, whereby an image defect may occur in the formed image.
In order to suppress the occurrence of offset, it has been considered to reduce the ejected amount of ink. However, in this case, it is difficult to form an image with a desired image density. Therefore, in order to suppress the occurrence of offset while forming an image with a desired image density, several compounds have been considered that can improve the permeability of the ink to the recording medium by being contained in the ink.
In view of this situation, as an ink excelling in the permeability to a recording medium (drying characteristic) and that can form a high quality image, an ink has been proposed that contains a compound in which a specific amount of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide has been added to a linear alkanol.
However, in order to form a high quality image, generally, for the dots formed by ink droplets landing the recording medium, it is desirable for the dot diameter to be sufficiently large, and the dot shape to be close to a perfect circle. However, with the above-mentioned ink containing the specific compound, since it is difficult to form dots having a shape close to a perfect circle, it is difficult to form high quality images.

Ink for ink-jet recording apparatuses and image forming method


Provided is a system and method for providing removable data storage elements as a cloud based storage system. More specifically, the method achieves this for at least one embodiment by receiving at least one generally random stream of data objects, each data object having at least one identifiable element. The method directs the selection of at least a first identifiable element. The method then orders the stream of data objects against the first identifiable element and disposes the data objects upon at least one of the removable data storage elements in accordance with the ordered stream of data objects. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Data processing systems are a staple of digital commerce, both private and commercial. Speed of data processing is important and has been addressed in a variety of different ways. In some instances, greater memory and central processing power are desirable, albeit at increased cost over system or systems with less memory and processing power.
Commerce, and indeed business in general is highly reliant on networked computer systems for nearly all aspects of business activity, such as offering products for sale, maintaining account records, analyzing data, etc. . . . Yet the needs for resources may and often do change from time to time.
Networks exist in a variety of forms, from the vast and expansive nature of the Internet to the small local area network of a company or home setting. Whereas it was once common place to provide all desired computer resources within one physical system, networking systems permit a greater flexibility in adaptively balancing resources and scaling to meet growing demands.
One type of networking resource that has grown in popularity is cloud computing. With respect to cloud storage, a user is permitted a great degree in terms of freedom to add or remove large or small quantities of data without incurring the direct costs of increasing hardware storage to accommodate larger volumes, or having available hardware resources available that are under utilized.
One popular form of cloud based storage is Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service), an online web based storage service offered by Amazon Web Services. Amazon S3 provides a simple web service interface that permits users to store and retrieve virtually any amount of data, at any time and from anywhere on the Internet. Intended to provide high scalability, high availability and low latency, Amazon S3 has seen rise a number of related services that enhance or repackage the S3 functionality in different ways.
Although also intending to be low cost and perhaps indeed lower cost than providing localized storage, S3 architecture and other such cloud based storage systems operate in much the same way as traditionally expected storage systems, which is random access as permitted by a powered hard drive.
Random access is the ability to access different elements of data in an arbitrary position in a sequence in equal time, independent of the sequence size, and of course independent of the sequence order. This is the opposite from sequential access, wherein access time from one data element to the next is directly related to the distance between elements and is therefore not equal from any one element to any next element.
Often a user may have a considerable amount of legacy data that although desirable or perhaps even required to be maintained for some period of time is accessed very infrequently. In other cases, users may have an accumulation of data that although they desire its storage and access for retrieval, it is of low priority.
For such data, although the cloud based storage option of S3 or a similar service is perhaps desirable for its ease of access, an even lower cost option might be preferred as the frequency diminishes the value of S3's quick response time.
Yet, archiving out of the S3 environment may be undesirable as the action of archiving removes the general S3 functionality when and if it should be desired without having to first un-archive and restore data back into the S3 environment.
Moreover, although cloud based storage does provide improvement over localized storage in some ways, it is not without its own set of challenges and difficulties. Indeed the high scalability and flexibility of cloud based storage systems such as S3 are often highly desirable for active data management, when the frequency of use and or the type of use diminishes, the costs of traditional cloud base storage may become more noteworthy.
It is to innovations related to this subject matter that the claimed invention is generally directed.

System and method for removable data storage elements provided as cloud based storage system


A lens array capable of effectively converging light entering from a light source and constituting a liquid crystal device of a high contrast includes liquid crystal of a twisted nematic type sandwiched between a TFT substrate and a counter substrate. A micro lens array is formed in the counter substrate. Lenses constituting the micro lens array respectively have a shape of a rotational aspheric surface, and an optical center axis F thereof is tilted in a bright vision direction of the liquid crystal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens array and an image display apparatus of a projection type, in particular, to a lens array suitably used in a liquid crystal device, in which liquid crystal sealed between a pair of substrates exhibits a twisted orientation between the substrates, and an image display apparatus of a projection type using the lens array.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the projection type image display apparatus, for example, lights comprised of primary colors of red, blue and green are penetrated through respective liquid crystal devices (light valve) and an image component for each of the colors is formed, so that the image components are synthesized to thereby create a desired color image and project the image on a screen, or the like.
FIG. 1 shows a partial schematic illustration of a configuration in cross section of a liquid crystal device 1 of a TN (twisted nematic) mode used as a light valve of an image display apparatus of a projection type. The liquid crystal device 1 is mainly comprised of a TFT substrate 2, a counter substrate 3, liquid crystal 4 and a spacer (not shown). In the TFT substrate 2, pixel electrodes 6 are arrayed in an inner surface of a glass substrate 5 in a matrix shape, a black matrix region 7 is provided in a region surrounding the pixel electrodes 6, and an alignment film 8 made of a polyimide film, or the like, is provided on the pixel electrodes 6 and the black matrix region 7. The pixel electrodes 6 are formed in a window shape by means of a transparent electrode film. The black matrix region 7 is a region where TFTs (thin-film transistor) for turning on/off the respective pixel electrodes 6, wirings such as data lines and scan lines, and the like are provided. The surface of the black matrix region 7 is covered with a black mask made of a metal material such as chrome, resin black, or the like. In the counter substrate 3, transparent counter electrodes 10, such as ITO, and an alignment film 11 made of the polyimide film, or the like, are provided for an entire inner surface of a glass substrate 9. The counter substrate 3 is also provided with a light blocking film 12 formed in a lattice shape in such manner as opposed to the black matrix region 7 of the TFT substrate 2. The light blocking film 12 is a black mask made of a metal material such as chrome, the resin black, or the like.
The TFT substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 are disposed in such manner as opposed to each other via the spacer. The liquid crystal 4 is sealed into between the alignment film 8 of the TFT substrate 2 and the alignment film 11 of the substrate 3 and held in a sandwiched state therebetween. As the liquid crystal 4 to be sealed thereinto, liquid crystal of the TN mode, which are twist-oriented through 90 degrees between the TFT substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 by the alignment films 8 and 11, is widely used. In the liquid crystal device 1 configured in the foregoing manner, the respective TFTs are turned on/off by means of an image signal so that the orientation state of the liquid crystal 4 can be controlled between the pixel electrodes 6 and the counter electrodes 10. Therefore, in the liquid crystal device 1 of a transmission type, light entering the liquid crystal device 1 from the counter-substrate-3 side is first converted into a linearly polarized light having a predetermined direction by means of a light-entering-side polarizing plate (not shown), and then enters the liquid crystal 4 from the counter-substrate-3 side. A linearly polarized light transmitting through a region is twisted in polarizing axis and emitted from the TFT-substrate-2 side, while a linearly polarized light transmitting through a different region is not twisted in polarizing axis and emitted from the TFT-substrate-2 side. As a result, one of the linearly polarized light twisted in polarizing axis by the liquid crystal 4 and the linearly polarized light not twisted in polarizing axis by the liquid crystal 4 transmits through a light-emitting-side polarizing plate (not shown). Therefore, the control of the polarizing states per pixel enables predetermined information to be displayed.
FIG. 2 schematically shows an orientation state of the liquid crystal 4 sealed into between the alignment film 8 of the TFT substrate 2 and the alignment film 11 of the counter substrate 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the light-emitting side, in which liquid crystal molecules are in a twist-oriented state by 90 degrees between the TFT substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3. As a method of twisting the liquid crystal 4 by 90 degrees, polyimide films, or the like, constituting the alignment films 8 and 11 are formed on inner surfaces of the respective substrates 2 and 3, and then, a rubbing treatment is performed between the respective alignment films 8 and 11 in directions making 90 degrees with respect to each other, as in respective rubbing directions shown in arrows A1 and A2. Next, the TFT substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 are attached to each other, between which the liquid crystal 4 is sealed into. As a result, the liquid crystal 4 is oriented with a major axis thereof directed to the rubbing directions with respect to the alignment films 8 and 11, and the major axis direction of the liquid crystal 4 is rotated through 90 degrees to be thereby twisted between a pair of alignment films 8 and 11.
In the liquid crystal device 1, in which the liquid crystal 4 is twist-oriented in the foregoing manner, a phase difference of the liquid crystal is different depending on viewing angles. Therefore, as described below, a contrast characteristic exhibits anisotropy (direction of anisotropy is different if the liquid crystal 4 is twisted to right or twisted to left) in response to the orientation state of the liquid crystal 4 (major axis direction and tilt of major axis) disposed between the substrates 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, a point O denotes a point on a light-emitting surface of the liquid crystal device 1, ON denotes a normal vertically extending from the point O on the light-emitting surface, OP denotes a direction of light emitting from the point O, and OY denotes a direction in parallel with the light-emitting surface of the liquid crystal device 1 (reverse bright vision direction described later). Further, an angle θ denotes an angle, by which the light-emitting direction OP is tilted from the normal ON (elevation angle), an angle φ denotes an angle (azimuth angle) made by a plane PON with respect to a plane YON (plane including line segments OY and ON). As shown in FIG. 2, the rubbing direction A1 of the alignment film 8 makes the angle of 45 degrees with respect to the OY direction, and the rubbing direction A2 of the alignment film 11 makes the angle of 135 degrees with respect to the OY direction.
FIG. 3 shows a contour drawing representing a contrast ratio of light emitting from the light-emitting surface of the liquid crystal device 1 to the OP direction (θ, φ). In the drawing, the contrast ratio is increased in the center and gradually reduced toward the periphery. FIG. 3 is denoted by means of polar coordinates, in which a radial coordinate represents the elevation angle θ, and an angle coordinate thereof represents the azimuth angle φ. According to the drawing, the contrast ratio in the light-emitting surface of the liquid crystal device 1 shows the anisotropy with a small contrast in a Y direction (direction of φ=zero degree) and a large contrast in a direction reverse to the Y direction (direction of φ=180 degrees).
FIG. 4A shows a contrast characteristic in a plane vertical to a plane including the direction OY and the line segment ON and also vertical to the light-emitting surface of the liquid crystal device 1 (plane of φ=90 degrees and φ=270 degrees). FIG. 4B shows a contrast characteristic in the plane including the direction OY and the line segment ON (plane of φ=zero degree and φ=180 degrees). As shown in FIG. 4A, the contrast characteristic in the plane of φ=90 degrees and φ=270 degrees exhibits a lateral symmetry centered on the line segment ON. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, referring to the contrast characteristic in the plane of φ=zero degree and φ=180 degrees, the contrast ratio exhibits its peak at a position being tilted in the azimuth of φ=180 degrees, while the contrast ratio considerably drops when deviated from the position. Therefore, the contrast ratio remarkably decreases in the azimuth of φ=zero degree.
In the case of exhibiting such a contrast anisotropy, a φ direction, where a maximum point of the contrast ratio is disposed, is called a bright vision azimuth, while a φ direction reverse to the φ direction is called a reverse bright vision azimuth. In the present case, the Y direction constitutes the reverse bright vision azimuth. In the specification, a direction in a third-dimensional space, where light having a higher contrast ratio enters and emits with respect to the liquid crystal device is called a bright vision direction. A direction in the third-dimensional space having the same elevation angle θ as in the bright vision direction on a side, where light having a lower contrast ratio enters and emits with respect to the liquid crystal device, is called a reverse bright vision direction. The bright vision azimuth is a two-dimensional azimuth, where the light having the higher contrast ratio is emitted when viewing the liquid crystal device from the light-emitting-surface side. The reverse bright vision azimuth is a two-dimensional azimuth, where the light having the lower contrast ratio is emitted when viewing the screen from the light-emission side. The bright vision azimuth and the bright vision direction are identical to each other, and the reverse bright vision azimuth and the reverse bright vision direction are identical to each other when viewing from a direction vertical to the light-emitting surface, while they are respectively reverse to each other when viewing from the light-entering side.
The projection type image display apparatus, which is designed to send out bright parallel ray from a light source, employs a light source 21 configured in such a manner as shown in FIG. 5. The light source 21 is comprised of a lamp 22, such as a xenon lamp disposed backward, and a reflecting mirror 23 disposed behind the lamp 22 and having a shape of rotational parabolic surface, wherein light emitted from the lamp 22 is reflected by means of the reflecting mirror 23 to be thereby converted into the substantially parallel ray and emitted forward.
The light emitted from the light source 21 is similar to the parallel ray, however is actually an emission light having a light volume distribution in a donut-shape with a dark center part. Therefore, a lens optical system (not shown), which serves to illuminate the light volume distribution in a substantially uniform manner on a liquid crystal screen, is generally formed between the liquid crystal and the light source. The lens optical system serves to uniform the light volume of the light emitted from the light source on the liquid crystal surface. However, the light volume of the light entering the liquid crystal screen marks its peak in a light-entering direction α and a spread angle in the light-entering direction results in around 2α on one side (see FIG. 22A). FIG. 6 shows an angle distribution of an emitting light volume in the plane including the OY direction and the line segment ON (plane of φ=zero degree and φ=180 degrees), which shows the contrast ratio in the bright vision/reverse bright vision directions (same as in FIG. 4B) a broken line. When the elevation angle θ in the bright vision direction at a peak point therein is represented by θo, the θo is around a few degrees (<α).
As described, there is very little light vertically entering the liquid crystal device 1 from the light source 21. The light from the light source 21 enters the liquid crystal device 1 slantwise with a spread of 2·α and at a tilt of around α. Therefore, the light entering the liquid crystal device 1 from the reverse bright vision direction is blocked by the light blocking film 12 and the black matrix region 7. As a result, the contrast in the liquid crystal device 1 is relatively increased. As shown in FIG. 7, however, the light entering the liquid crystal device 1 from the bright vision direction is also blocked in part by the light blocking film 12 and the black matrix region 7 (In FIG. 7, light-blocking area is hatched). Thus, the liquid crystal device 1 configured in the manner as shown in FIG. 1 had the problem that the screen is darkened.
FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a liquid crystal device 13 having a conventional configuration in a cross-section view. The liquid crystal device 13 employs a lens array substrate 14 as the counter substrate in place of the glass substrate. The lens array substrate 14 has an integral multilayer structure, in which a lens layer 15 having lens patterns and a refractivity of n1 and a flat glass 17 are attached to each other by means of an adhesive 16 having a refractivity of n2 (<n1). In a boundary between the lens layer 15 and the adhesive 16 is formed a micro lens array 18. Respective micro lenses constituting the micro lens array 18 are arrayed as opposed to the respective pixel electrodes 6 of the TFT substrate 2.
In the foregoing liquid crystal device 13, light entering from the bright vision direction is converged on the pixel electrodes 6 of the liquid crystal device 13 through the respective micro lenses as shown in FIG. 8, thereby making it difficult for the light from the bright vision direction to be blocked by the light blocking film 12 and the black matrix region 7. Light can be thus more efficiently utilized to thereby brighten a screen of the liquid crystal device 13.
The light emitted from the light source 21 is a light with a relatively small tilt and narrow spread as shown in a thick continuous line in FIG. 6. When the light from the light source passes through the micro lens array 18, an optical axis of the light is largely tiled and the spread thereof is broadened as shown in a thin continuous line in FIG. 6. In particular, light coming from the reverse bright vision direction is spread to a range of a very poor contrast. Such a light from the reverse bright vision direction is also converged on the pixel electrodes 6. As a result, the light blocking film 12 and the black matrix region 7 does not serve well to block the light, thereby creating the problem that a contrast of the liquid crystal device 13 is lowered.
In the projection type image display apparatus, an image brightness and contrast are very important factors. However, in the conventional technology, when such a liquid crystal device 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is used, the brightness is undermined, while the contrast is undermined when such a liquid crystal device 13 as shown in FIG. 8 is used. Therefore, it was difficult to obtain a liquid crystal device suitable for practical use.
According to a liquid crystal device 19 recited in No. 2001-249316 of the Publication of the Unexamined Patent Applications (cited reference 1), an optical center axis of respective micro lenses constituting a micro lens array 20 in a lens array substrate 14 is shifted in parallel with a bright vision-azimuth side with respect to a center position of pixel openings (pixel electrodes 6) in a TFT substrate 2 to thereby improve a contrast.
FIG. 9 shows a partial section of a schematic configuration of the liquid crystal device 19. In the liquid crystal device 19, a lens array substrate 14 has an integral multilayer structure, in which a lens layer 15 having lens patterns and a refractivity of n1 and a flat glass 17 are attached to each other by means of an adhesive 16 having a refractivity of n2 (>n1). In a boundary between the lens layer 15 and the adhesive 16 is formed a micro lens array 20. Further, the optical center axis of the micro lenses constituting the micro lens array 20 is shifted in parallel with the bright vision azumuth, and an edge of the respective micro lenses on the bright vision-azimuth side is formed in a plane vertical to the lens array substrate 14.
According to the liquid crystal device 19, the optical center axis of the micro lenses is shifted to the bright vision azimuth. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, light entering the liquid crystal device 19 from a bright vision direction transmits through the micro lenses to be thereby converged on the pixel electrodes 6 as tilted in the bright vision direction. On the contrary, light having a low contrast entering the liquid crystal device 19 from a reverse bright vision direction is refracted by the micro lenses to be thereby blocked by a blocking film 12 of a counter substrate 3 and a black matrix region 7 of a TFT substrate 2.
Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device 19, the incoming light is converged by means of the micro lens array to thereby more efficiently utilize light and realize a bright image display. Further, because such a simple configuration that the optical center axis of the micro lenses is shifted to the bright vision azimuth is employed, vertically incoming light is twisted to the bright vision direction to thereby transmit through the liquid crystal and, further, light entering from the reverse bright vision direction is blocked, thereby achieving a display having a high contrast. In other words, a liquid crystal device, in which the brightness is not really lost and a display of a good contrast characteristic is achieved, can be manufactured.
FIG. 10 shows a liquid crystal device 19 according to another embodiment, which is configured and exerts an effect in a substantially same manner as in the liquid crystal device 19 shown in FIG. 9. In the liquid crystal device 19 of FIG. 10, an edge of the respective micro lenses on the bright vision-azimuth side is rounded.
However, in the liquid crystal device 19 configured in the foregoing manner, as shown in FIG. 11, when light in the reverse bright vision direction enters a substantially vertical region disposed on the edge of the micro lens on the bright vision-azimuth side (hereinafter, referred to as non-continuous surface of micro lenses), the light transmits through the pixel electrodes 6 of the TFT substrate 2 and is emitted to the reverse bright vision direction, which lowers an image contrast. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, when light enters the non-continuous surface of the micro lenses from the bright vision direction, the light is emitted to a direction largely deviated from the opposed counter pixel electrodes 6. The light, then, enters the adjacent pixel electrodes 6 and becomes stray light, which decreases the brightness and contrast of the image. The liquid crystal device 19 of FIG. 10 having a curved part corresponding to the non-continuous surface, which is not quite an ideal shape, also undergoes the same behavior of light. As a result, it was actually difficult to improve the contrast of the liquid crystal device 19 in the case of the liquid crystal device 19 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Lens array and image display apparatus of projection type


An apparatus comprises an end effector, a shaft assembly, and an interface assembly. The end effector is operable to manipulate tissue, the shaft assembly is in communication with the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector. The interface assembly is in communication with the shaft assembly. The interface assembly comprises a housing portion, a shaft cartridge, and a base portion. The housing portion can engage the shaft cartridge. The shaft cartridge is able to rotate and articulate the end effector, and the shaft assembly extends from the shaft cartridge. The base portion and the housing portion are able to enclose the shaft cartridge.

A variety of surgical instruments include a tissue cutting element and one or more elements that transmit radio frequency (RF) energy to tissue (e.g., to coagulate or seal the tissue). An example of an RF electrosurgical instrument is the ENSEAL® Tissue Sealing Device by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio. Further examples of such devices and related concepts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,176 entitled "Electrosurgical Systems and Techniques for Sealing Tissue," issued Dec. 31, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,201 entitled "Electrosurgical Instrument and Method of Use," issued Sep. 26, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,409, entitled "Electrosurgical Working End for Controlled Energy Delivery," issued Oct. 24, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,146 entitled "Electrosurgical Probe and Method of Use," issued Jan. 30, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,253, entitled "Electrosurgical Jaw Structure for Controlled Energy Delivery," issued Mar. 6, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,189,233, entitled "Electrosurgical Instrument," issued Mar. 13, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,951, entitled "Surgical Sealing Surfaces and Methods of Use," issued May 22, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,309,849, entitled "Polymer Compositions Exhibiting a PTC Property and Methods of Fabrication," issued Dec. 18, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,709, entitled "Electrosurgical Instrument and Method of Use," issued Dec. 25, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,440, entitled "Electrosurgical Instrument and Method of Use," issued Apr. 8, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,209, entitled "Electrosurgical Instrument," issued Jun. 3, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Additional examples of electrosurgical cutting instruments and related concepts are disclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0087218, entitled "Surgical Instrument Comprising First and Second Drive Systems Actuatable by a Common Trigger Mechanism," published Apr. 14, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,939,974, issued Jan. 27, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0116379, entitled "Motor Driven Electrosurgical Device with Mechanical and Electrical Feedback," published May 10, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,161,803, issued Oct. 20, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0078243, entitled "Control Features for Articulating Surgical Device," published Mar. 29, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0078247, entitled "Articulation Joint Features for Articulating Surgical Device," published Mar. 29, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0030428, entitled "Surgical Instrument with Multi-Phase Trigger Bias," published Jan. 31, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,089,327, issued Jul. 28, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; and U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0023868, entitled "Surgical Instrument with Contained Dual Helix Actuator Assembly," published Jan. 31, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
In addition, a variety of surgical instruments include a shaft having an articulation section, providing enhanced positioning capabilities for an end effector that is located distal to the articulation section of the shaft. Examples of such devices include various models of the ENDOPATH® endocutters by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio. Further examples of such devices and related concepts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,696, entitled "Articulating Surgical Stapling Instrument Incorporating a Two-Piece E-Beam Firing Mechanism," issued Jun. 3, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,508, entitled "Surgical Stapling and Cutting Device," issued Jul. 29, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,208, entitled "Surgical Instrument with Articulating Shaft with Rigid Firing Bar Supports," issued Nov. 25, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,790, entitled "Surgical Instrument Incorporating an Electrically Actuated Articulation Mechanism," issued Mar. 24, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,564, entitled "Surgical Stapling Instrument with an Articulating End Effector," issued Jun. 23, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,450, entitled "Surgical Instrument Incorporating a Fluid Transfer Controlled Articulation Mechanism," issued Jul. 14, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,431, entitled "Surgical Instrument with Guided Laterally Moving Articulation Member," issued Feb. 2, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,054, entitled "Surgical Instrument with Laterally Moved Shaft Actuator Coupled to Pivoting Articulation Joint," issued Aug. 24, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,784,662, entitled "Surgical Instrument with Articulating Shaft with Single Pivot Closure and Double Pivot Frame Ground," issued Aug. 31, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,798,386, entitled "Surgical Instrument Articulation Joint Cover," issued Sep. 21, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Some surgical systems provide robotic control of a surgical instrument. With minimally invasive robotic surgery, surgical operations may be performed through a small incision in the patient's body. A robotic surgical system may be used with various types of surgical instruments, including but not limited to surgical staplers, ultrasonic instruments, electrosurgical instruments, and/or various other kinds of instruments, as will be described in greater detail below. An example of a robotic surgical system is the DAVINCI™ system by Intuitive Surgical, Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif. By way of further example, one or more aspects of robotic surgical systems are disclosed in the following: U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,135, entitled "Articulated Surgical Instrument For Performing Minimally Invasive Surgery With Enhanced Dexterity and Sensitivity," issued Aug. 11, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,084, entitled "Remote Center Positioning Device with Flexible Drive," issued Oct. 6, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,193, entitled "Automated Endoscope System for Optimal Positioning," issued Mar. 2, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,565, entitled "Robotic Arm DLUS for Performing Surgical Tasks," issued May 15, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,524, entitled "Robotic Surgical Tool with Ultrasound Cauterizing and Cutting Instrument," issued Aug. 31, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,888, entitled "Alignment of Master and Slave in a Minimally Invasive Surgical Apparatus," issued Apr. 2, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,524,320, entitled "Mechanical Actuator Interface System for Robotic Surgical Tools," issued Apr. 28, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,691,098, entitled "Platform Link Wrist Mechanism," issued Apr. 6, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,891, entitled "Repositioning and Reorientation of Master/Slave Relationship in Minimally Invasive Telesurgery," issued Oct. 5, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,824,401, entitled "Surgical Tool With Writed Monopolar Electrosurgical End Effectors," issued Nov. 2, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Additional examples of instruments that may be incorporated with a robotic surgical system are described in U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0012957, entitled "Automated End Effector Component Reloading System for Use with a Robotic System, published Jan. 10, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,844,789 on Sep. 30, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0199630, entitled "Robotically-Controlled Surgical Instrument with Force-Feedback Capabilities," published Aug. 9, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,820,605 on Sep. 2, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0132450, entitled "Shiftable Drive Interface for Robotically-Controlled Surgical Tool," published May 31, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,616,431 on Dec. 31, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0199633, entitled "Surgical Stapling Instruments with Cam-Driven Staple Deployment Arrangements," published Aug. 9, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,573,461 on Nov. 5, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0199631, entitled "Robotically-Controlled Motorized Surgical End Effector System with Rotary Actuated Closure Systems Having Variable Actuation Speeds," published Aug. 9, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,602,288 on Dec. 10, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0199632, entitled "Robotically-Controlled Surgical Instrument with Selectively Articulatable End Effector," published Aug. 9, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0203247, entitled "Robotically-Controlled Surgical End Effector System," published Aug. 9, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,783,451 on Jul. 22, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0211546, entitled "Drive Interface for Operably Coupling a Manipulatable Surgical Tool to a Robot," published Aug. 23, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,479,969 on Jul. 9, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0138660, entitled "Robotically-Controlled Cable-Based Surgical End Effectors," published Jun. 7, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,800,838 on Aug. 12, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0205421, entitled "Robotically-Controlled Surgical End Effector System with Rotary Actuated Closure Systems," published Aug. 16, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,573,465 on Nov. 5, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/443,101, entitled "Control Interface for Laparoscopic Suturing Instrument," filed Apr. 10, 2012, published Oct. 10, 2013 as U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0267969, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; and U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 61/597,603, entitled "Robotically Controlled Surgical Instrument," filed Feb. 10, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
While several surgical instruments and systems have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventors has made or used the invention described in the appended claims.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the technology may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present technology, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the technology; it being understood, however, that this technology is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electrosurgical device with disposable shaft having modular subassembly


An active bias is formed on a wafer which an electrical circuit is formed and produces a biasing voltage applied to an input signal which is additionally applied to the electrical circuit. In particular, the active bias may comprise at least one transistor, and is preferably, the same type of transistor forming the electrical circuit such that wafer lot variations affecting the electrical circuit may correspondingly affect the characteristics of the active bias. The active bias may comprise one field effect transistor with its drain electrically connected to the output of the electrical circuit. Additionally, the drain may be electrically connected to the gate of the transistor. In this regard, the current through the transistor may produce a voltage at the drain of transistor and respectively at the gate of the transistor. This voltage may then be applied to the electrical circuit as the biasing voltage. In this circuit, the current through the transistor will vary due to wafer lot variations and as a result, will correspondingly change the biasing voltage to be applied to the electrical circuit. The active bias may additionally comprise additional transistors wherein the channels of each transistor are electrically connected to the gates of the other transistor. In this regard, the current through the transistors are regulated by each other to prevent the transistors from having an excessive increase or decrease in current flowing therethrough.

The present invention is generally related to a bias circuit which may provide a biasing voltage to biased circuit, and more particularly, is related to a bias circuit that may provide a biasing voltage that varies accordingly to changed characteristics of the biased circuit due to process variations.
FIG. 1 illustrates a distributed amplifier and a passive gate bias. The distributed amplifier is formed on a wafer, whereas the passive gate bias is formed on a circuit board which receives the distributed amplifier chip. Since the distributed amplifier is formed on a wafer, the distributed amplifier may have characteristics which may vary because of wafer lot to wafer lot variations. One such variation may be quiescent points of transistors which make up the distributed amplifier. To compensate for this variation, oftentimes, the passive gate bias is connected to the distributed amplifier. In the circuit shown in FIG. 1, the distributed amplifier receives an input signal at gates of the transistors. If the distributed amplifier was formed as designed and behaves as designed, then the input signal may not need to be biased. However, due to the wafer lot variations and the resulting differing characteristics in the amplifier, the input signal may need to be biased such that the transistors of the distributed amplifier operate at its quiescent point. As such, the passive gate bias is applied to the gates of the transistors to apply the biasing voltage to the input signal. In manufacturing, the distributed amplifier is tested during assembly to determine the amount of the wafer lot variation, and then the appropriate passive gate bias is selected to compensate for the variation. The passive gate bias shown in FIG. 1 is a resistive voltage divider and in this respect, appropriate resistor values are selected to compensate for the wafer lot variations. The purpose of the resistive voltage divider is to bias the input signal to the distributed amplifier such that the distributed amplifier may operate at its quiescent point.
This process of selecting proper resistors is very time consuming and inefficient in that at the least a statistical sampling must be done on the distributed amplifier of a particular wafer lot such that proper resistors are selected for the resistor voltage divider. Additionally, this process relies on a person to make a repetitive process which creates the possibility of error.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved bias which may account for the wafer lot to wafer lot variations. As will be shown, an aspect of this invention is to design an active bias which is formed on the wafer which the distributed amplifier is formed on to thereby impart the wafer lot variations onto both the distributed amplifier and also the active bias.

MMIC distributed amplifier gate control using active bias


An identification tag for authenticating a product is associated with the product and has authentication data transmissible to a reader device. The authentication data include source data including a tag identifier that uniquely identifies the identification tag and a signature value that is a result of a private key encryption of a representation of the source data, where the private key encryption uses a private key of a public key encryption method.

In today's world, many products are exchanged between different parties. Frequently, modern products are produced by a division of production processes. The products may be produced in one location and require further products that are produced in a different location. The required products may be produced by specialized producers and they may be procured from distributors. Furthermore, a division of sales and distribution processes may lead to additional exchanges of products.
The exchange of the products frequently renders the products anonymous. Therefore, a way of identifying the products uniquely and automatically is desirable. This may be done by using identification tags that are associated with the products. The tags may be read by a reader device and may provide, for example, a material number that uniquely specifies a product type. A product type can identify equivalent products but usually does not identify an individual product of the product type. One example for an identification tag is a printed bar code on a package of a product. The bar code can be read with an optical reader device, and the material number can be obtained from the read data. A further example is a passive radio frequency identification tag (RFID tag) that may be attached to the product or the package. The RFID tag can be read with a radio frequency identification reader device (RFID reader device). Reading the transmissible data from the RFID tag is fast and can be automated. Furthermore, the RFID tag may provide further data, such as, for example, an electronic product code identifying each product uniquely.
The exchange of products may permit the introduction of counterfeited products into production processes or sales and distribution processes. The counterfeited products are sold as authentic products but they are not authentic because they are not produced by an authentic producer. The counterfeited products can be of an inferior quality compared to authentic products. They may also be different with regards to a specific characteristic from the authentic products. Due to this, the counterfeited products can cause severe damages to a purchaser of such products. A producer of counterfeited products may not be held responsible for the damages and consequently may not take care to prevent the damages. Furthermore, the counterfeited products may damage a reputation of the authentic products and pose financial risks to the authentic producer.

Authentication of products using identification tags


A method and apparatus for analyzing an investigated complex system the complex system including a plurality of system components, the method includes the steps of providing a base virtual object oriented data model including abstract components corresponding to system components of the investigated complex system, wherein each abstract component of the base virtual object oriented data model includes parameters and attributes of the respective system component of the investigated complex system; mapping sensor tags of sensors deployed in the investigated complex system (2) and/or event names of events received from the investigated complex system to the parameters of the abstract components of the provided base virtual object oriented data model to generate a dedicated data model for the system type of the investigated complex system; and performing a failure mode and/or a root-cause analysis of the investigated complex system on the basis of the dedicated data model.

A complex technical system can comprise a plurality of subsystems and system components. These system components can comprise hardware and/or software components. An example of a complex system is a turbine system for generating electrical energy. The basic operation of the gas turbine is similar to that of a steam turbine except that air is used instead of water. The air flows through a compressor that brings it to higher pressure. Energy is then added by spraying a fuel into the air and igniting it so that the resulting combustion generates a high-temperature flow. The generated high-temperature high-pressure gas enters the turbine where it expands down to the exhaust pressure producing a shaft work output. The turbine shaft work can be used to drive the compressor and other subsystems such as an electric generator that may be coupled to the shaft. Turbines can be used for any kind of vehicles and/or electrical generators.
Such a complex system comprising a plurality of subsystems or system components is monitored during operation to avoid failures. In a conventional complex system such as a gas or steam turbine, a large number of sensors can be deployed to register relevant physical parameters of the same or different subsystems and/or system components such as rotor speed, burner tip temperature or oil temperature. The measured parameter values can be used by a local control system of the respective complex system.
Using the sensor data provided by the deployed sensors, i.e. the measured physical parameter values, and the detected events, from the control system, a service engineer can monitor a performance of the respective complex system, for instance the turbine performance of a gas or steam turbine. If there is a deviation from the normal operation or a failure such as an abnormal turbine shutdown, it is the task of the service engineer to figure out the failure mode having caused the abnormal operation. Examples for such a failure mode of a turbine complex system are for instance thermocouple failures, gear box vibration failures or a blow-off valve failure. The service engineer then can eliminate the root-cause of the identified failure and start the complex system or turbine which had shutdown again.
Often, a service provider performs the monitoring of a plurality of complex systems via a remote diagnostic center connected to the local control systems of the different monitored complex systems. For instance, a remote monitoring service provider can monitor a large number of different turbines from different manufacturers receiving data from different control systems of the monitored complex systems or turbines. The received turbine sensor data can be stored in a data base of a central remote server of the service provider. For each complex system or turbine, the sensor data can be stored in a single table having a sensor tag name column. By using a client server software application and known sensor tag names, a monitoring engineer at the remote diagnostic center of the service provider can browse the received sensor data along with events received from the control systems of the different turbines.
For instance, FIG. 1 shows a view displayed to the monitoring engineer showing a thermocouple failure. In the illustrated FIG. 1, the sensor data received from a thermocouple sensor TC jumps from a first to a second level during the monitored time indicating a possible failure. Further, the remote server of a diagnostic center may receive events from the different complex systems such as:    14.02.2014 11:46:42 Warning TURBINE TEMPERATURE DEVICE FAILED    14.02.2014 12:38:36 Warning TURBINE TEMPERATURE DEVICE FAILEDThe warnings represent events having taken place at a complex system monitored by the remote server of the service provider. These indicated events normally comprise a timestamp indicating when the remote server of the service provider has received an event message. With such a conventional system, a monitoring engineer is made aware of failure events at a monitored turbine or complex system but cannot immediately find out which components of the respective complex system are involved or responsible for the failure or suspicious operation behavior of the monitored complex system.
To find out the cause of the failure or the responsible component, the monitoring engineer at the remote diagnostic center does normally generate different trend views or event views, i.e. a graph for several physical parameters along with a filter for the control system events. Further, the monitoring engineer may formulate and monitor a failure mode rule, for instance a logical-numerical formula for several physical parameter values and thresholds TH along with a pattern for matching the events. FIG. 2 shows an example for failure mode detection rules R formulated by a monitoring engineer. In the given example, a complex system CS such as a turbine having a unit name UN: "NA0014/01" comprises a plurality of sensors having sensor tags STs TC1 to TC13. If one of the defined failure mode rules R is fulfilled, the failure of a specific component such as thermocouple TC1 can be signaled to the monitoring engineer.
A severe drawback of such a conventional monitoring approach is that the monitoring engineer has to specify the sensor tags and/or event names of different events as well as the attributes, in particular the physical parameter thresholds. However, there is no unified convention for sensor tags ST or event names EN or attributes across a plurality of different complex systems CS produced for instance by different manufacturers. The designations of components within a complex system CS can be quite complex itself having a plurality of letters and numbers which may vary for each single complex system monitored by the service provider. Accordingly, a monitoring engineer programming a fault detection rule must be aware of the different designation systems DS or names used for a plurality of components of different complex systems. Furthermore, the physical parameters which can be used in defining a failure mode detection rule are not configured to any standard system of units, such as SI units, and threshold values may not be available from a data storage. Consequently, for each complex system CS, the monitoring engineer must manually adopt trend views or event views and define manually failure mode detection rules using tags and names which may differ for each system type of a complex system. Therefore, the definition of a failure mode detection rule R is very cumbersome and can be prone to errors or failures itself. Further, the manual definition of failure mode detection rules R and the generation of trend or event views in case of detected failure events can take a long time before the system monitoring engineer can find out the likely cause of a component responsible for the failure event of the monitored complex system CS. If for instance a turbine temperature failure of a specific turbine or complex system has been notified to the monitoring system engineer at the remote service provider, the affected complex system CS may be immediately shutdown to avoid further damages and the monitoring engineer will try to find out the responsible component or cause as fast as possible. The creation and monitoring of trend views and/or event views as well as the formulation of possible failure mode detection rules may take a considerable time during which the affected complex system such as a turbine cannot operate.

Method and apparatus for analyzing an investigated complex system


A design rule checker that performs a maximum pattern density check in a first intermediary metallization layer that underlies a top metallization layer and a pad opening in an integrated circuit. The maximum pattern density check is performed at least under some circumstances if a modulus of the primary metallization material is less than a modulus of a surrounding dielectric material. The maximum pattern density check verifies that the pattern density within the underlying portion is below a maximum pattern density that depends on the thickness of the access pad. A maximum metal width check may also be performed in this portion.

Bond pads are use in integrated circuits (ICs) to electrically connect the integrated circuit to external components. Small, simple ICs typically have a few pads, while complex digital ICs can have well over 1000 pads. The IC die is often coated with layers of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) dielectric to prevent mechanical damage and moisture ingress, except at the pad openings where the aluminum (Al) film of the bond pad is exposed. The pad opening is also commonly referred to as a "passivation window" or "nitride window".
Below this top coating are interleaved layers of dielectric (typically SiO2) and metallization with fine horizontal (i.e., in the plane of the metallization layer) metal interconnect circuitry. The metallization is often primarily aluminum with perhaps a top and bottom coating of titanium nitride (TiN). The dielectric layers electrically separate neighboring metallization layers except at conductive vias that extend vertically (perpendicular to the plane of the metallization and dielectric layers) to electrically connect one metallization layer to another. Such vias are often composed of tungsten (W).
Two to seven individual metallization layers are common in aluminum metallization technologies, depending upon the complexity of the IC. The semiconductor "devices" such as transistors and diodes are at the silicon (Si) wafer surface, beneath the dielectric layers and metallization layers. Such devices are covered in dielectric, with W contacts that connect them electrically to wires typically in the first metallization layer. Below the semiconductor devices is the relatively thick silicon (Si) body that provides the rigid structural strength of the die.
Pad structures consist of the bond pad itself and all the material beneath the pad opening. In the traditional pad structure, interconnect wiring or the usual semiconductor devices are not present beneath the pad opening, where the Al pad film of the bond pad is exposed. The traditional pad structure in this metallization system consists of a stack of ductile Al films sandwiched between brittle SiO2 glass films that are prone to crack as they bend.
Other circuitry in the IC has traditionally been designed to be relatively far away from the pad structures to avoid reliability risks. However, as IC die area continues to be reduced, designs have brought circuitry closer to and even under the pads, potentially increasing reliability risks due to the latent damage caused by wafer probing and wirebonding.
Some prior designs acknowledge that cracks will occur, and aim to contain the cracks within the region of the upper pad films. The occurrence of cracks and other pad damage affecting reliability are recognized as being more serious as interconnect circuitry replaces the full metal plates beneath the pad window, especially in the top-metal-minus-one (or metal top-minus-one, MT(−1)) layer. As mentioned, most prior efforts revolve around methods of probing and bonding more gently, thus reducing the stress applied to the pad.
The most common pad structure improvement methods are to remove the top vias from beneath the pad window for crack prevention, and to thicken the Al pad film layer to help dissipate stress at the top of the pad structure rather than directly transferring it below the pad metal. Other than these, the reported methods can be roughly placed into two categories: 1) modifications to the films near the top of the pad, and 2) employment of special structures in the pad sub-layers to achieve a specific purpose.

Pad over interconnect pad structure design

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC.


An assembly of a steering wheel base body (12) and a gas bag module (14), the gas bag module (14) being able to be detachably latched with the steering wheel base body (12). A group of first latching elements (18; 318) is provided on the gas bag module (14) or the steering wheel base body (12), and at least one second latching element (22; 322), able to be brought into reversible locking engagement with the first latching elements (18; 318), is provided on the steering wheel base body (12) or the gas bag module (14). When the assembly (12, 14) has been put together, the first latching elements and the at least one second latching element (18, 22; 318, 322) are arranged so as to be movable with respect to each other in an unlocking direction (R; R′). The first and second latching elements (18, 22; 318, 322) are designed such that through a movement of the second latching element (22; 322) relative to the first latching elements (18; 318) in the unlocking direction (R; R′) all latching connections (18, 22; 318, 322) are released simultaneously in a non-destructive manner.

In such assembly, the gas bag module normally can be detachably latched with the steering wheel base body, a group of first latching elements being provided on the gas bag module or the steering wheel base body, and at least one second latching element, able to be brought into reversible locking engagement with the first latching elements, being provided on the other one of the steering wheel base body and the gas bag module.
For reasons of time-saving and cost effectiveness, gas bag modules are being fastened increasingly frequently in steering wheels by means of latching connections. Apart from ensuring a secure connection of the gas bag module with the steering wheel base body, these latching connections are also to be releasable in a simple manner, in order to be able to perform a maintenance on the gas bag module or exchange it. Whereas the fastening of a component by a latching connection can generally take place in a short operating step, in the majority of known latching connections the loosening of the latching connection requires considerably more time. The invention provides a remedy for this.

Assembly of a steering wheel base body and gas bag module


Improved hollow fiber bioreactor systems and cell culture methods are described. The improvement includes means which may be a novel basket bioreactor for extending the extracapillary space of a conventional hollow fiber bioreactor.

Propagation zone configuration of many known bioreactors imposes constraints on cell growth. For example, conventional hollow fiber bioreactors comprise an intracapillary space (ICS) and an extracapillary space (ECS). Cells are seeded in the ECS for cell growth and production of cell-expressed biomolecules. The cells in the ECS are nourished by nutrients which diffuse across the hollow fiber membrane from media circulated through the ICS. The various disadvantages of conventional hollow fiber bioreactors include:
(1) The growth rate of cells seeded in the ECS is slower than that in static T-flask culture or in the stirred tank system.
(2) Cell masses are immobilized in the hollow fiber bundles with consequent resistance to nutrient diffusability and lower cell viability.
(3) The harvest of cell-expressed biomolecules is limited with consequent lower volumetric biomolecule productivity.
(4) Scale-up of hollow fiber bioreactors implicates complex flow paths because the efficiency of such systems is proportional to the surface area of the hollow fiber membrane and the ratio of the total ICS to the total ECS.


The invention relates to a holding fixture (71) for holding at least one cable (72) with an affixing member (1) and a clamping member (40). In order to ensure that the clamping member (40) and the affixing member (1) are arranged in a holding position (H), in which the cable (72) is securely held, the invention provides that the holding fixture (71) is provided with an indicator element (77, 78) that is at least sectionwise laterally shielded by the clamping member (40), if the clamping member (40) is arranged before its holding position (H), and that is arranged in an indication position (I), in which it can easily be perceived, if the clamping member (40) is arranged in its holding position (H).

The invention relates to a holding fixture for holding at least one tube for guiding a cable and/or at least one cable, in particular fibre optic cable, along a longitudinal direction of the tube or cable, the holding fixture comprising an affixing member for holding the tube or cable, the affixing member being shaped with two laterally opposing side supports, which define between them a holding channel for at least sectionwise receiving the tube or cable, the holding channel extending in the longitudinal direction, and a clamping member, the clamping member being adapted to be mounted on the affixing member and, in a mounted state, to be moved from a pre-holding to a holding position.
Holding fixtures for holding cables are known in the art. For instance, EP 2 330 706 A1 discloses holding fixtures for cables, which are part of a gel sealing device for sealing a passage through an opening, e.g. in a wall of a house, with which cables can be guided and held. For securing the cables against movements at least parallel and maybe even perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the cable, the known holding fixture comprises a fastener clip for holding the cable, which can be affixed to a cable guidance member of the holding fixture.
With the known holding fixtures, it is, however, not easily recognisable if the fastening clip is correctly mounted. If the fastening clip is not correctly mounted, the cable may not be affixed and may thus be moved, even if only low mechanical forces act upon the cable. A movement of the cable, however, may influence the sealing properties of the gel sealing device and affect a function of a device, to which the cable is connected.
In view of these disadvantages of the known holding fixtures, an object underlying the invention is to provide holding fixtures that prevent incorrect assembly of holding fixtures.

Holding fixture for holding at least one cable with an affixing member and a clamping member


Proposed is a cured silicone rubber article such as a push button switch covering member having a protective coating layer of a urethane resin-based coating composition having excellent wear resistance against rubbing and capable of giving a dry and rigid touch feeling to the finger tip of the operator of the key tops. The coated silicone rubber article is obtained by subjecting a cured base body of a silicone rubber, prior to the coating with a urethane resin-based coating composition, first to a low temperature plasma treatment and then to a coating treatment with a specific primer composition which is a mixture of an epoxy group-containing organosilane compound and an amino group-containing organosilane compound in a molar mixing ratio in the range from 1:2 to 1:5.

The present invention relates to a cured silicone rubber article having a protective coating layer of a urethane resin-based coating composition or, more particularly, to a cured silicone rubber article, of which the surface layer is of the silicone rubber as such or a silicone resin-based coating layer, having a protective coating layer of a urethane resin-based coating composition with very firm adhesive bonding to the substrate surface to be resistive against abrasive rubbing as well as to a method for the preparation of such an article. In particular, the invention is applicable to a silicone rubber-made push button switch covering member of which the key top surface bearing an indicia to indicate the function of the particular key top which should be highly resistant against wearing under repeated pushing operations with a finger tip.
As is well known, various kinds of modern electric and electronic instruments, such as telephones, pocketable calculators, office-automation instruments, computers and the like, have a push button switch panel containing a plurality of push button switches. Sometimes, such a push button switches are desired to be visible or recognizable even in a dark place as in various kinds of instruments born on a transportation machine such as air crafts, automobiles, boats and the like by proving an internal illuminating means.
A push button switch panel currently under practical applications basically consists of a base board, on which a plurality of pairs of fixed contact points are provided, and a push button switch covering member made from a rubbery material having elasticity and having a plurality of push button units corresponding to the pairs of fixed contact points on the base board on which the push button switch covering member is mounted. A single push button unit in the push button switch covering member consists, in principle, of a base plate, a key top plate and a riser part connecting the base plate and the key top plate to form a dome-like protrusion on the base plate. It is usual that the key top plate is provided on the upper surface with an indicia to indicate the function of the particular switch while the key top plate is provided on the lower surface with a movable contact point which comes into contact with the fixed contact points on the base board either directly or indirectly through a click plate and the like when the key top plate is pushed down with a finger tip of the operator so as to close the electric circuit. When the key top plate is released from the pushing-down force, it regains the undepressed disposition by means of the elastic resilience of the riser part to open the electric circuit.
By virtue of the simple structure requiring a small number of parts and easiness of assemblage as compared with traditional mechanical switches, the push button switch panels of the above described type are widely used in various fields mentioned above. Among various kinds of rubbery materials, silicone rubbers are the most widely used rubbery materials for the push button switch covering member, which is an integral body prepared by molding and curing a silicone rubber, in respects of the unique and advantageous properties thereof such as the precision moldability, excellent electric insulation, high heat and cold resistance, weatherability, resistance against fatigue by repeated bending, elastic resilience and so on.
Conventional silicone rubber-made push button switch covering members, however, have several problems and disadvantages that, as an inherency of silicone rubbers, the top surface of the key top plate gives a feeling of tackiness to the operator's finger tips to disturb smooth key operation resulting in a decrease in the operating efficiency, that no high resistance can be obtained against wearing of the indicia provided on the upper surface of the key top plate and that the greasy material excreted from the finger tip of the operator permeates the silicone rubber layer of the key top plate to reach and infiltrate the movable contact point resulting in an increase in the electric resistivity thereof. Several remedial means described below are heretofore undertaken to solve these problems.
Firstly, the top surface of the key top plate of a push button switch covering member provided with an indicia is coated with a silicone resin-based coating composition as is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai 62-268025. Secondly, the top surface of the key top plate of a push button switch covering member provided with an indicia is first subjected to a treatment with corona discharge followed by application of an amino silane-based coupling agent as a primer and coating with a urethane resin-based coating composition.
The above mentioned first way is in fact effective in imparting the upper surface of the key top with a rigid and dry touch feeling to the operator's finger tip but almost no improvement can be obtained thereby in respect of the wearing resistance of the indicia by the repetition of key-pushing operations. The second way mentioned above is also effective in imparting the upper surface of the key top with a rigid and dry touch feeling to the operator's finger tip and, in addition, is also effective in the improvement of the wearing resistance of the indicia and prevention of infiltration of a greasy material through the key top plate to reach the movable contact point below the key top plate but a problem left in this way is that the coating layer of the urethane resin-based coating composition is susceptible to yellowing in the lapse of time.

Cured silicone rubber article having a protective coating layer


The claimed invention relates to compositions that may be in a form of a liquid, solid, gel, cream or gel capsule comprising an analgesic, and methods for administering these compositions for treatment of patients suffering from various forms of pain.

Pain is an unpleasant sensation with a wide range in severity that can be localized or prevalent throughout the body. Pain is affected by nerve stimulation that carries impulses to the brain and is a symptom of an underlying disease, disorder, or physical injury.
It is estimated that 100 million Americans currently suffer with pain. Clinical complaints due to pain come in many varieties. Such complaints may be due to such ailments as arthritis, back pain, neuropathy, or a headache.
A headache, also known as cephalalgia, ranks amongst the most common clinical pain complaints and can be caused from a wide variety of physiological effects. Such causes range from hormonal changes, muscle tension in the back of the neck, or from dehydration. Because headaches come in many forms, they may be treated or prevented by various methods. These methods may include maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress or making use of various medications. Such medications can be antianxiety drugs, antidepressants or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). However, when these drugs are ineffective or not possible to use due to allergic reactions, other drug combinations may be prescribed.

Compositions and methods for the treatment of pain