An electrosurgical apparatus for cutting tissue and for ablating occlusions includes a pulse generator for selectively generating a train of pulses of electrical energy for application to a wire having an attached electrode, the generator having a variable output impedance, the wire and the electrode being at least part of a load impedance. The apparatus senses the load impedance relative to the output impedance and adjusts the output impedance to match the load impedance. The generator produces pulses of variable energy, measures the relative electrical energy produced by an arc in response to a pulse, compares the relative electrical energy to a predetermined value to determine an energy difference, and adjusts the energy of a subsequent pulse to reduce the energy difference for the subsequent pulse toward zero.

The use of electrical arcing in surgical procedures has been known for some time. In one external application, an electrical scalpel, sometimes referred to as a Bovee knife, is employed to simultaneously make an incision and cauterize the incised tissue. In the use of that apparatus, a surgeon can visually observe the arcing between the knife and tissues and the cutting of the tissue. The surgeon can make adjustments in the position of the scalpel or in the electrical signal for controllably making and cauterizing an incision. For example, if the arc is observed to be too strong, either the electrical energy supplied to the scalpel can be reduced or the scalpel can be moved to a position farther from the tissue.
Electrical ablation of occlusions within lumens, such as arteries and vessels, has also been known for some time. In that technique, a wire, catheter, or other implement, generically referred to here as a wire, having an electrode at its end is inserted into a vessel or artery and moved to a position adjacent an occlusion. Once an occlusion is encountered, electrical energy, usually in the form of pulses, is supplied to the electrode so that arcing occurs. The plaque forming the occlusion is vaporized or reduced to very small particles if the arcing ablation proceeds as intended. In some apparatus, for example, the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,596 to Bales et al, a bipolar catheter is employed. In a bipolar catheter, two wires are inserted in the lumen and two electrically isolated electrodes are present at the end of the catheter. Arcing occurs between the two electrodes. In other known apparatus, an example of which is described in PCT Application W090/07303 to Janssen, a monopolar, rather than bipolar, catheter may be employed. A monopolar catheter is used in conjunction with a dispersive electrode or ground pad that is placed on a portion of an animal's body, such as a human's belly or thigh, which provides an electrical return path. Arcing then occurs between a single electrode at the end of the catheter and the grounded body. Janssen also discloses a bipolar arcing catheter apparatus.
In addition to occlusion removal, percutaneous electrosurgery may be carried out in other liquid-containing body cavities or lumens where visual observation is difficult or impossible. For example, arthroscopic procedures may be used for releasing or shaping ligaments. In laparoscopic techniques, nerves may be severed, tissues may be incised, and parts or all of organs removed through a relatively small incision that is far less invasive than conventional surgery. Urological surgery, such as transurethral resection of the prostate and ablation of cancerous tissues, also may be carried out using electrosurgical techniques. Vascular ablation has already been extended to plaque ablation within the heart in the presence of blood. In all of these procedures, the cavity or lumen in which the electrosurgery takes place is partially or completely filled with a fluid, such as blood or a saline solution, that affects and usually interferes with the electrosurgery.
There is a significant difference between external electrosurgery, such as the use of the Bovee knife, and other internal vascular electrosurgery, such as occlusion ablation. In internal electrosurgery, it is impossible to observe the arcing causing plaque removal or cutting of tissues. In fact, it is even difficult to determine the position of the electrode where arcing is taking place. Janssen suggests the use of ultrasound to determine the location of the electrode. Other techniques include adding a contrast medium for fluoroscopic observation of the position of the electrode. While these and other techniques may permit determination of the location of an electrode, they do not permit observation or control of arcing to ensure that an arc occurs and has particular qualities.
Producing an arc, particularly a monopolar arc, within a liquid, such as a saline solution or blood, presents difficult problems. For example, the efficiency of the arcing and tissue removal decreases significantly as compared to external electrosurgery. The typical response to this efficiency problem with known electrosurgical apparatus is an increase in the electrical power applied to the electrode. However, increased power may cause damage to patient tissue remote from the surgical site, increasing the risk that the surgeon will receive an electrical shock, raising the probability of undesired tissue charring or excessive incision, and may cause loss of sensitivity in the surgeon's control.
It is well known that the electrical impedance of an electrosurgical electrode and connecting wire varies depending upon the position, i.e., depth of insertion, relative to a body, the quantity of adjacent liquid, if any, and other variable factors. The prior art has not taken into account the varying load impedance as a wire and electrode are advanced in a body cavity or lumen or the effect of the impedance change on the energy of an arc and the resulting surgical process. In an electrosurgical scalpel application, i.e., in a dry environment, it has been recognized that, as moisture is driven from tissue by bipolar arcing, impedance increases and can result in problems such as adhering of instruments to tissue (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,819 to Harris et al).


A stent delivery method and system are disclosed. The system generally includes an elongated delivery sheath and a perfusion catheter disposed within a sheath lumen of the sheath having an expandable member on its distal extremity. The sheath includes perfusion ports to maintain blood flow to perfusion ports in the catheter during delivery of the stent. A manipulating device is provided at the proximal end of the delivery system to effect relative axial movement between the sheath and the catheter so as to expose the stent mounted on the expandable member on the catheter within a body lumen such as a coronary artery and allow the expansion of the stent by the expansion of the expandable member.

This invention relates to devices for the treatment of heart disease and particularly to endoarterial prosthesis, which are commonly called stents.
Several interventional treatment modalities are presently used for heart disease including balloon and laser angioplasty, atherectomy, and by-pass surgery. In typical balloon angioplasty procedures, a guiding catheter having a preformed distal tip is percutaneously introduced through the femoral artery into the cardiovascular system of a patient in a conventional Seldinger technique and advanced within the cardiovascular system until the distal tip of the guiding catheter is seated in the ostium of a desired coronary artery. A guidewire is positioned within an inner lumen of a dilatation catheter and then both are advanced through the guiding catheter to the distal end thereof. The guidewire is first advanced out of the distal end of the guiding catheter into the patient's coronary vasculature until the distal end of the guidewire crosses a lesion to be dilated, then the dilatation catheter having an inflatable balloon on the distal portion thereof is advanced into the patient's coronary anatomy over the previously introduced guidewire until the balloon of the dilatation catheter is properly positioned across the lesion.
Once in position across the lesion, the balloon which is made of relatively inelastic materials, is inflated to a predetermined size with radiopaque liquid at relatively high pressure (e.g., greater than 4 atmospheres) to compress the arteriosclerotic plaque of the lesion against the inside of the artery wall and to otherwise expand the inner lumen of the artery. The balloon is then deflated so that blood flow can be resumed through the dilated artery and the dilatation catheter can be removed therefrom.
Further details of dilatation catheters, guidewires, and devices associated therewith for angioplasty procedures can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,071 (Simpson-Robert); U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,185 (Lindquist); U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,972 (Samson); U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,622 (Samson, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,929 (Samson, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,652 (Simpson); U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,805 (Powell); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,982 (Horzewski, et al.) which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto.
A major problem which can occur during balloon angioplasty procedures is the formation of intimal flaps which can collapse and occlude the artery when the balloon is deflated at the end of the angioplasty procedure. Another major problem characteristic of balloon angioplasty procedures is the large number of patients who are subject to restenosis in the treated artery. In the case of restenosis, the treated artery may again be subjected to balloon angioplasty or to other treatments such as by-pass surgery, if additional balloon angioplasty procedures are not warranted. However, in the event of a partial or total occlusion of a coronary artery by the collapse of a dissected arterial lining after the balloon is deflated, the patient is put in an extremely dangerous situation requiring immediate medical attention, particularly in the coronary arteries.
A major focus of recent development work in the treatment of heart disease has been directed to endoprosthetic devices called stents. Stents are generally cylindrically shaped intravascular devices which are placed within a damaged artery to hold it open. The device can be used to prevent restenosis and to maintain the patency of blood vessel immediately after intravascular treatments. In some circumstances, they can also be used as the primary treatment device where they are expanded to dilate a stenosis and then left in place.
But the rapid and effective delivery of a stent to the desire location within the patient's vasculature has been found to be difficult, particularly in those situations in which an intimal flap has occluded an artery. Attempts to advance a stent into regions of coronary arteries occluded by dissected arterial linings have not been very successful.
The two basic methods and systems have been developed for delivering stents to desired locations within body lumens. One method and system involves compressing or otherwise reducing the diameter of an expandable stent, disposing the compressed stent within a lumen provided in the distal end of a tubular catheter, advancing the catheter through the patient's vasculature until the distal end of the catheter is immediately adjacent to the desired vascular location and then pushing the stent out the distal end of the catheter into the desired location. Once out of the catheter, the compressed stent expands or is expanded to thereby hold open the artery or other body lumen into which it is placed.
Another method and system involves disposing a compressed or otherwise small diameter stent about an expandable member such as a balloon on the distal end of a catheter, advancing the catheter through the patient's vascular system until the stent is in the desired location within a blood vessel and then expanding the expandable member on the catheter to expand the stent within the blood vessel. The expanded expandable member is then contracted and the catheter withdrawn, leaving the expanded stent within the blood vessel, holding open the passageway thereof.
The following references illustrate various types of stents and stent delivery systems. The list is meant to be exemplary, not exhaustive on the subject.
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,956 U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,569 U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,338 U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,545 U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,374 U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,771 U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,918 U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,849 U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,128 U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,507 U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,458 U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,882 U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,003 U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,516 U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,906 U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,062 U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,336 U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,141 U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,464 U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,227 U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,615 ______________________________________
What has been needed and heretofore unavailable is a stent delivery system which can be quickly and easily used in a wide variety of situations and particularly in emergency situations where a dissected arterial lining has collapsed and has occluded the flow of blood to a vital organ. The present invention satisfies this need.
In addition, because the expandable member such as a balloon is inflated, the flow of blood in the artery or vessel being treated is occluded. The balloon can only be inflated for a limited amount of time, typically on the order of 15 to 60 seconds. A longer inflation time would be desirable because it would: allow more time for the surgeon to deploy the stent; allow maximum stent to vessel conformity; and permit good artery seating of the stent. On the other hand, risks of prolonged balloon inflation time include angina or ischemic conditions in tissue distal to the catheter.
The importance of continuous blood flow during percutaneous transluminal coronary or peripheral vascular applications is recognized. Indeed, a perfusion-type dilatation catheter for angioplasty was introduced into the marketplace by Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (ACS). This catheter, which can take the form of an over-the-wire, a fixed wire, or a rapid exchange type catheter, has one or more perfusion ports proximal and one or more perfusion ports distal to the dilatation balloon, which ports are in fluid communication with a guidewire receiving inner lumen extending to the distal end of the catheter. When the balloon is inflated to dilate a stenosis, oxygenated blood in the artery or aorta, or both, is forced through the proximal perfusion ports, through the inner lumen of the catheter, and out of the distal perfusion ports.
The rapid exchange version of the perfusion-type dilatation catheter has a short guidewire receiving sleeve or inner lumen extending through a distal portion of the catheter. The structure of the catheter allows for the rapid exchange of the catheter without the need for an exchange wire or adding a guidewire extension to the proximal end of the guidewire. Details of such a rapid exchange type perfusion catheter are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,548 (Yock) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,273 (Yock), which are incorporated by reference herein.
Of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,566 (Crocker), which discloses a delivery and temporary stent catheter having a reinforced perfusion lumen. The temporary stent in Crocker is used only for maintaining patency of a body lumen while permitting perfusion of fluid through the lumen. Crocker is not directed to delivery of stents after angioplasty procedures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,971 (Willard et al.) discloses a temporary stent for supporting a region of a vessel in a body comprising a stent portion and an actuator portion. The stent portion is comprised of an elongate perfusable vessel supporting portion, wherein the stent provides a flow path radially as well axially or longitudinally.
There is, however, still a need for a stent delivery system that includes a mechanism for perfusing blood during delivery of the stent to the deployment site.


A component and chip assembly apparatus includes an assembly stage configured to support a chip, the chip including grooves defining a first pitch, the grooves including a first groove opening configured to receive a plurality of optical fibers and to align the plurality of optical fibers. A picker brings a fiber component including a plurality of optical fibers having a second pitch into contact with the chip such that each optical fiber is aligned with a respective groove. At least one of the assembly stage and the picker includes a comb having a plurality of teeth that define individual cavities therebetween, the cavities having a first cavity opening to receive the optical fibers and isolate each optical fiber from one another and pre-align the optical fibers so as to adjust the second pitch to substantially match the first pitch.

This invention relates generally to assembly of microelectronic, optoelectronic and photonic components, and more specifically, to a component and chip assembly apparatus configured to optically couple optical fibers to light guides formed in a semiconductor chip.
In various technological fields such as photonics, for example, it may be necessary to attach a component having optical fibers to a waveguide coupler included with a photonic device. A cost effective approach to complete this attachment is to use a standard high throughput component and chip assembly apparatus typically referred to as a pick-and-place tool.
Standard pick-and-place tools include a picker mechanism that works to pick up the fiber component using a motion arm that includes a pick head. The picker brings the optical fibers into contact with a substrate or chip (i.e., the part the component will be placed on) which sits on a stationary assembly stage. The fiber component and the substrate/chip are then aligned in the X and Y-axes (e.g., horizontal axes) and the motion arm moves down in the Z-axis (e.g., vertical axis) to place the fiber component on the substrate/chip. The motion arm, however, typically does not have the capability to make a precise horizontal motion necessary to butt-couple the fibers and the waveguide coupler once the optical fibers come into contact with the chip. Moreover, even if such precise horizontal motion were possible, the motion arm does not generally have pressure controls in the horizontal displacement directions (e.g., the X and Y axes) in order to control the force of the butt-couple.
A conventional solution to provide the necessary horizontal motion is to pre-fix a fiber lid to the optical fibers using, for example, adhesive. That is, the optical fibers are fixed to the lid and are unable to move freely as the fibers are constrained by the adhesive as a function of the adhesive's compliance. Thereafter, the fiber component (having the lid already attached to the optical fibers) is picked up and maneuvered to the assembly stage such that the optical fiber/lid assembly is brought into contact with the chip. The assembly stage to which the chip is placed upon contains an angled sliding plane which converts some of the z-direction placement force to a horizontal force, pending on the angle of the sliding plane. This causes the chip to move towards the fiber component in the x-direction thus allowing the fibers to butt couple to the waveguide couplers on the chip. As the fixated fibers are first pressed into v-grooves on the chip to allow for proper alignment, the fibers apply a force to the v-groove walls thus creating a friction force (i.e. the sliding frictional coefficient) when the chip moves towards the fiber component and the fibers attempt to slide along the v-groove features.

Component and chip assembly structure for high yield parallelized fiber assembly

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A low subthreshold leakage current, p-channel HFET including a GaAs supporting substrate with a first GaAs buffer layer and a first Al.sub.0.75 Ga.sub.0.25 As diffusion barrier layer formed thereon and a low temperature grown layer, including one of GaAs and AlGaAs, grown at 200.degree. C. on the first diffusion barrier layer. A second Al.sub.0.75 Ga.sub.0.25 As diffusion barrier layer is positioned on the low temperature grown layer and a second GaAs buffer layer is grown on the second diffusion barrier layer. A p-channel HFET is formed on the second buffer layer.

Field effect transistors (FETs) are used to a great extent in various logic and control circuits because of their low power requirements. As is known, many logic and control circuits use complementary devices to further reduce the power consumed in the circuits. Because of this extensive use, there is a need to make FETs smaller so that larger numbers of them can be incorporated into integrated circuits and the like. Also, by making the FETs smaller, especially with shorter gates, the operating frequency can be much higher and the devices can be used in high speed digital circuits and the like. Some of the smallest FETs are heterostructure FETs (HFETs), including heterostructure insulated gate field effect transistors (HIGFETs).
Prior art HFETs and especially p-channel HFETs cannot practically be made with very short gate lengths due to severe short channel effects such as high output conductance and subthreshold currents. Generally, prior art HFETs are constructed with a buffer layer on the substrate and active device channel. Such buffer layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy process are p-type. For p-channel devices this is one of the key problems that prevents the successful fabrication of prior art submicron devices. As gate dimensions are reduced in these devices, from 1 .mu.m to lower levels (e.g. 0.5 .mu.m), the subthreshold leakage currents increase almost exponentially from near nano-amperes to several hundred nano-amperes, or in some cases microamperes when the gate length is at 0.5 .mu.m. Subthreshold slopes also increase substantially to several hundred millivolts per decade, and the devices do not pinch-off at all. Also, noise margins are severely degraded. Thus, these prior art devices become useless for complementary logic circuits as they are made smaller.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide HFETs which could be fabricated in submicron ranges with improved subthreshold leakage currents.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved HFET and method of fabrication.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved HFET which can be manufactured in submicron ranges with substantially reduced subthreshold leakage currents.
It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved p-channel HFET which can be manufactured with gate lengths under 0.5 .mu.m and subthreshold leakage currents in the nanoamperes.


Disclosed is a composition for applying a clear or translucent emissive coating on an aluminum containing surface. The composition includes, in a dispersion, 50 to 300 g/l of at least one of clear or translucent organic polymeric substances of a binder, and 30 to 300 g/l of sheet silicate pigments having a TE value for the thermal emissivity of at least 0.40, having a particle size distribution of which d50 is in the range of 0.3 to 80 μm and having been comminuted, disintegrated, exfoliated or any combination of these to thin particles. The composition additionally includes the reaction product of at least one aminefunctionalized organosilane and/or oligomer and/or polymer thereof and at least one fatty acid. The molar ratio of the amino group/s of the at least one amine-functionalized organosilane and/or oligomer and/or polymer thereof and of the at least one fatty acid is 1.2:1 to 1:2.

Energy saving and environmental protection are an important topic in many countries. Within such targets, cool roofing of buildings is one of the fields. In the United States of America, a variety of standards has been developed to control and to measure energy losses as well as energy savings.
Emissive coatings show a reduced absorption of electromagnetic radiation. They are seeked to reduce the amount of heat transfer from solar irradiance by absorption to transmission and to increase the amount of heat to be reflected.
A cool roof has a cool element that reflects the heat of the sun light and emits absorbed radiation back into the atmosphere in a higher degree than conventional. The cool element allows that the cool element and the thermally protected object like the cool roof stays cooler and reduces the amount of heat transferred to the thermally protected object like a building or an inner space of a transportation unit keeping the thermally protected object cooler and at a more constant temperature. It is estimated that if there would be used nationwide cool roofs over U.S.A., there would occur annual savings of about 1 billion US-$.
For gaining a cool roof and similar cool elements, the following effects have to be considered: Solar reflectance, thermal emissivity of energy which is initially absorbed and not reflected and then radiated, thermal resistance to resist the flow of heat into the interior, thermal mass e.g. to absorb solar energy during the day and emit it in the night, some heat to be absorbed and transferred into the interior, water transpiration especially of porous or vegetated roof surfaces, convection because of wind as well as the slope of the roof. Further on, especially the construction type, the occupancy type and the product density influence the thermal conditions.
Such conditions can be transferred to similar applications like for cool elements or for inflammable elements or both like e.g. elements of aeroplanes, of automobiles, of bicycles, of flying objects, of ships, of trains, of rockets, of satellites, of exterior antennae, of exterior architectural elements, of guard-rail elements, of tanks, of chemical plant elements, of textile elements, of papers or wall-papers, of plastics' materials containing elements, of wood-containing elements, of other coated elements, of painted and emissively coated elements, of coated elements made of glass, metallic materials, organic materials etc.
The reduction of heat of buildings and further thermally protected objects like transportation units may contribute to reduce urban temperatures and air pollution e.g. by smog. Therefore, cool elements may contribute in several aspects to enhance the quality of life.
However, many producers of metallic elements for architectural use would like to produce colorless or only slightly colored translucent or even better clear coatings so that the structure of the metallic surface is well visible like zinc flowers of the metallic surface even with the naked eye.
Despite all efforts for cool roofing elements and for similar cool elements, there has been a lack of clear or translucent emissive coatings e.g. on metallic elements like metallic sheets for example made from Galvalume®, Galfan®, Galvanneal® or any type of zinc or zinc containing alloy or aluminum alloy coated steel. And there has been a lack of clear or translucent emissive coatings to be used in different applications, e.g. on glass, wood, painted substrates etc.
This problem has been solved in US 2012-0107625 A1. Here, according surfaces are treated with a dispersion comprising a clear or translucent organic polymeric substance of a binder and a sheet silicate pigment having a certain particle size distribution and having been comminuted, disintegrated or exfoliated to thin particles. That way, a clear or translucent and colorless or nearly colorless emissive coating especially for cool roofing may be obtained.
However, in case of treating metal surfaces, once a metal surface is stained or corroded, the entire coating system might no longer properly function as a low energy system because the reflectance of the metal surface would be lowered. Similarly, if the coating components (mainly polymers) are degraded with discoloration, the coating would not be considered as clear emissive coating anymore by losing the original clarity.
Thus, especially in the U.S.A. as well as in Canada, metallic sheets for architectural use are often seeked to fulfill the following high requirements in terms of anti-corrosion and anti-UV degradation:                Neutral Salt Spray (NSS) Test in accordance with ASTM B 117 over 1000 hours: <5% black/white rust, no stains/water marks        QUVa test (accelerated weathering test under UV light condition, developed by Q-lab) in accordance with ASTM D4587 over 2000 hours: ΔE<3%, gloss retention>60%
Even for the emissive coatings of US 2012-0107625 A1, these requirements are hard to meet on aluminum containing surfaces, in particular on surfaces comprising an aluminum-zinc alloy such as Galvalume®.
As will be explained hereinafter, the present invention deals with a composition for applying a clear or translucent emissive coating—especially for cool roofing—on an aluminum containing surface—especially on a surface comprising an aluminum-zinc alloy—with improved anti-corrosion and anti-UV degradation properties, which meets the above mentioned high requirements.

Application of amine functionalized organo silane fatty acid combo system as corrosion inhibitors in the clear emissive permanent coatings on aluminum/zinc alloy


This invention relates to a switching circuit, such as a bridge circuit, comprising first and second switches operable to produce an electrical signal at the output of the switching circuit at certain voltages. Moreover, this invention also relates to a method of operating such a switching circuit. The switching circuit comprises an input operable to receive a DC signal of +Vs, an output, first and second switches operable in response to first and second switching signals to be switched between on and off states such that switching between various combinations of on and off states produces an electrical signal at the output with voltage pulses at levels of +Vs, 0V and −VS and a voltage sensor for producing a signal indicative of a voltage offset in the switching circuit. Voltage effects in the switching circuit can be compensated for by using the signal produced by the voltage sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a switching circuit comprising first and second switches operable to produce an electrical signal at the output of the switching circuits at certain voltages. Moreover, this invention also relates to a method of operating such a switching circuit.
The switching circuit may comprise a bridge circuit operated to produce a voltage across a load connected to an output of the bridge circuit in accordance with a required voltage. For example, a presently contemplated application of the present invention is in driving an electromagnet in response to a demanded force produced by the electromagnet that must be met to a very high tolerance. The force produced by the electromagnet can be controlled in response to either current demands or voltage demands, because control of either current or voltage affects the force produced by the electromagnet. In addition, the current controller can be operated in response to force demands, although this must be converted into a current or voltage demand. Even where the current controller is operated in voltage demand mode with demanded voltages being set across the electromagnet, this will of course influence the current flowing through the electromagnet and so the term 'current controller' is used to cover operation in response to voltage or current or field demands.
Where the current controller is operated in response to voltage demands, high-frequency voltage pulses may be applied to the electromagnet because the large inductance associated with an electromagnet leads to a slow response time in the current so that it smoothly follows drifts in the average voltage applied across the electromagnet.
A known switching circuit is shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen, the switching circuit comprises a half-bridge circuit with an electromagnet connected across its output. Control of the voltage across the electromagnet is achieved by switching a pair of transistors positioned on opposed arms of the bridge circuit (the other opposed arms containing diodes to complete the half-bridge circuit) to alter the polarity of the voltage across the electromagnet between +VS and −VS. A current or voltage demand will be received and switching signals are generated to match this demand. The switching signals are supplied at the points marked A and B to control the transistors such that they are switched between maximum and minimum conducting states (their linear region is not used due to poor power efficiency). The diodes in the half-bridge circuit ensure that current flows in one direction only through the electromagnet, in this case from right to left in FIG. 1. The current controller is operated such that the transistors are switched concurrently: when both transistors are on (i.e. conducting), a voltage of +VS is applied across the electromagnet and when the transistors are off (i.e. non-conducting), a voltage of −VS is applied across the electromagnet. The duty cycles at +VS and −VS determine the average current delivered to the electromagnet in that period, remembering that the inductance of the electromagnet ensures that the current smoothly follows the voltage rather than sharply jumping with each voltage pulse. Hence, by switching the transistors at appropriate times, the desired current can be delivered to the electromagnet. A reservoir capacitor is included to hold current drawn from the electromagnet that cannot be passed back to the DC supply.
The pulsed voltage signal that produces these duty cycles is implemented using pulsed switching signals supplied to the transistors. The switching signals are modulated according to a pulse width modulation scheme according to an analogue-implemented scheme, such that the width of the pulses within a period are varied so that the pulse at +VS is varied relative to the remaining time at −VS to produce the desired current. Alternatively, a pulse density modulation scheme may be used, as is well known in the art.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
A problem with the above described switching circuit is that there are a number of offsets in voltages across various parts of the circuit that will cause the voltage produced across the electromagnet to differ from that required. These voltage offsets may be caused by fluctuations in the DC supply about the nominal value of +VS (both due to mains ripple and the voltage across the reservoir capacitor varying as it charges and discharges, in particular) and by voltage drops across the diodes and transistors caused by their intrinsic resistance. In addition, slow response times in the components causes slow variation in the voltage supplied to the electromagnet that falls behind the required variation. If these effects are not corrected for, the average voltage delivered to the electromagnet during the period will not match the required voltage.

Switching circuit and a method of operation thereof


An appreciation card including a front panel having a window formed therein that is located between the left side and the right side of the front panel and being defined by a window border. A gift card panel is disposed on the back face of the front panel below the window border. The gift card panel includes a pocket section and an attachment tab, the pocket section being connected to the window border on a first end and to the attachment tab at an opposing second end, the attachment tab being adhered to the back face of the front panel, and the pocket section being free from the back face of the front panel. The front panel and the gift card panel define a gift card slot into which a gift card may be inserted.

Appreciation cards are popular gifts to give friends, relatives, employees, and other individuals to whom a gift giver wants to show appreciation. Such appreciation cards are known to include gift cards which have a preset amount of currency associated therewith for use at one or more shopping establishments. In such circumstances, the appreciation card houses the gift card in such a way that it is unlikely to fall out of the appreciation card prior to delivery. Mechanisms by which an appreciation card houses a gift card include a plurality of corner pockets that house only the corners of the gift card, as well as obvious gift card pockets that are adhered to the surface of the appreciation card.
However, some purchasers of such appreciation cards either forget or decide not to include a gift card with the appreciation card. The absence of the gift card is obvious to the receiver of the appreciation card, which can engender a negative reaction by the receiver due to the belief that the sender is uncaring or cheap. In such circumstances, there is desire in the market to have an appreciation card that conceals the gift card receptacle or otherwise does not make obvious the absence of a gift card therein.

Appreciation card with hidden gift card slot


Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer code for, among other things, monitoring the health of samples such as the brain while providing local cooling or heating. A representative device is a heat transfer probe, which includes an inner channel, a tip, a concentric outer channel, a first temperature sensor, and a second temperature sensor. The inner channel is configured to transport working fluid from an inner inlet to an inner outlet. The tip is configured to receive at least a portion of the working fluid from the inner outlet. The concentric outer channel is configured to transport the working fluid from the inner outlet to an outer outlet. The first temperature sensor is coupled to the tip, and the second temperature sensor spaced apart from the first temperature sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical devices. More particularly, it concerns a medical probe that can be used to induce localized cooling of tissue, including the brain and other tissue or organs. The localized cooling can reduce local cell death and swelling.
2. Description of Related Art
Traumatic events such as stroke, head trauma, car accidents, falls, etc. may cause localized swelling of tissues and/or organs (e.g., swelling of the brain). Swelling causes increased pressure and blood flow and decreases the ability of affected cells to dissipate heat. It is known that lowering the temperature of the affected cells not only alleviates swelling, but also helps to dissipate heat.
Most conventional cooling systems aimed at treating trauma cool globally instead of locally. In response to trauma, a patient may be subjected to an ice bath or slurry. Although effective to a degree, this type of cooling may lead to other serious problems. For instance, global cooling may cause a heart attack or organ failure.
The ability to apply localized cooling reduces or eliminates such problems. U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,684 to Gobin et al. ("the '684 patent), which is incorporated by reference, describes certain techniques to achieve relatively-localized cooling (or heating). The '684 patent describes a catheter that can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a relatively-selective area of the body without cooling the entire body system. By positioning a heat exchange catheter in a body conduit (e.g. an artery), heat can be added to or removed from the body fluid (e.g. blood) to heat or cool a selected body portion (e.g. the brain). The heat exchange catheter includes a shaft, fluid inlet and outlet lumens, and at least one balloon provided in a heat exchange region. The balloon wall provides a barrier between the body fluid (e.g. blood) and a heat exchange fluid. Although exhibiting some utility, the '684 nevertheless suffers from drawbacks. In particular, the degree of localization afforded is not easily controlled. Because the primary cooling mechanism of the '684 patent involves the cooling of, for instance, a supply fluid, it is difficult or impossible to precisely control or truly localize the cooling. Rather, an entire region (e.g. the entire brain) may be significantly cooled. Additionally, the '684 patent does not provide means to effectively monitor the localization of the cooling or quantify the amount of cooling being effected in tissue. Still further, and importantly, if a body fluid is not present, it appears that techniques of the '684 patent may be inapplicable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,804 to Dobak et al. ("the '804 patent), which is incorporated by reference, describes certain techniques for selective organ heating and cooling. Similar in some respects to the '684 patent, the '804 patent describes a catheter that can be used to change the temperature of a fluid, such as blood, by heat transfer. A catheter system has an inlet lumen and an outlet lumen structured and arranged to carry a working fluid having a temperature different from the adjacent blood. Heat exchange between the two fluids may be utilized, in one embodiment, to cool blood. The '804 patent suffers from drawbacks identical or similar to those of the '684 patent.
Referenced shortcomings of conventional methodologies mentioned above are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are among many that tend to impair the effectiveness of previously known techniques concerning localized cooling for medical applications. Other noteworthy problems may also exist; however, those mentioned here are sufficient to demonstrate that methodology appearing in the art have not been altogether satisfactory and that a significant need exists for the techniques described and claimed in this disclosure. In particular, a significant need exists for technology that would allow users to achieve localized cooling, which may greatly benefit the treatment of patients, and particularly patients exhibiting localized brain swelling.


A method to extend the process monitoring capabilities of a semiconductor wafer optical inspection system so as to be able to detect low-resolution effects of process variations over the surface of a wafer at much higher sensitivity than heretofore possible. The method consists, in essence, of grouping sensed pixels by geometric blocks over the inspected surface and comparing each block with a corresponding one from another die on the same wager, from another wager of from a stored model image. In one embodiment of the invention, pixel values are compared directly and differences are thresholded at a considerably lower level than during a defects detection process. In another embodiment, there is calculated a signature for each block, based on the sensed light intensity values, and corresponding signatures are compared.

The process of fabricating integrated circuits (ICs) on a semiconducting substrate, such as a silicon wafer, is highly complex and consists of a large number of steps. Each step involves many process parameters that must be tightly controlled in order to obtain consistent and accurate results. There are, however, physical factors that may cause unintentional deviations in the process at any step.
Such factors may be due to variations in the substrate itself, to slight mechanical and optical inaccuracies in the processing equipment (such as defocusing due to slight misalignment), to dust and dirt and to environmental variations. The deviations in the process may be a function of time that is between successive wafers, or between various parts of any one wafer, or both. When any of these process deviations becomes excessive, singly or in combination, defects may appear in some features of the IC. These defects may be manifested in one of two scales: (a) as deviations of the surface appearance, observable over a considerable area and therefore with low resolution, which are usually due to slight geometric deviations (such as in the width of conductors), and (b) as more noticeable geometric distortions in minute areas, observable at full optical resolution. We shall refer to the former (those on scale "a") as "macro-defects" and to the latter (those on scale "b") as "micro-defects", sometimes also as just "defects".
Since the geometry of modern ICs is defined in units on the order of 0.1-0.2 microns, the slight deviations observable in macro-defects, while occurring over large areas, must be measured with resolutions down to the order of tens of nanometers or better, which can be done only at shorter than optical wavelengths.
Micro-defects, on the other hand, are generally (and by definition) of sizes such as to be detectable through optical microscopy. They may be due to microscopic disturbances in the process, such as dust particles, or they may be, as they often are, extreme manifestations of macro-defects.
Commonly, wafers in process are inspected periodically, e.g., after certain processing steps, in order to detect defects and to thus monitor the process.
Currently, the entire top surface of the wafer is inspected only optically and that—with special apparatus that is designed to detect micro-defects. An example of such apparatus is the Compass inspection system, sold by Applied Materials of Santa Clara, Calif.; its essential parts, notably the optical system, illustrated by the block diagram in FIG. 1, include a light beam source, such as a laser source, optics for collimating, focusing and scanning the light beam, a wafer holder, for holding and moving the inspected wafer, at least one sensor and a processor for processing the signals from each sensor.
Detected defects are analyzed as to their number and, preferably, as to their nature. Obviously, the occurrence of a relatively large number of defects within any region, or over the entire wafer, attests to some fault or unacceptable deviation in the process and should alert the operator to try to identify the physical factor causing the deviation and to take proper remedial action, e.g., appropriately adjusting process parameters. In the case of a very large number of defects, a determination is possibly made to reject certain dies or possibly the entire wafer.
Often, detected defects are closely examined and analyzed at a separate, so-called review, phase of operation, in order to learn therefrom about the nature of the responsible process deviation or about the existence of a macro-defect and its nature, from which, again, the responsible process deviation may be deduced. Such examination is generally done at a higher resolution than that used for defects detection and may involve micro metrology techniques. It may be carried out by means of the same equipment, but often is done on a separate, very high resolution, device, such as a scanning electron microscopes (SEW—which is extremely expensive.
This current-art procedure of learning about process deviations that cause macro-defects in the fabricated ICs by detecting micro-defects, and possibly reviewing them, has two major drawbacks: Firstly and most importantly, macro-defects must be fairly severe in order for detectable resultant micro-defects to appear; there is then a risk of deleterious further deviation in the process before it is remedied; in extreme cases, the detected defects, whether micro or macro, may already be excessive, requiring wafer rejection-which obviously represents economical loss. Secondly, the close examination and analysis of defects during the review phase involves time and costly equipment; the time delay may cause additional wafers to be adversely affected before the process deviations have been identified and corrected. It is noted that the first drawback could be averted if the entire surface could be inspected at high resolution; this procedure is, however, extremely slow and, as mentioned above, requires very expensive equipment.
There is thus a clear need for a method and apparatus that would inspect the entire surface of wafers in process, directly detecting macro-defects at levels that do not necessarily result in micro-defects and thereby providing early, or more sensitive, indications of process variations. There is, moreover, a need for such process variation monitoring apparatus to be relatively inexpensive and therefore to preferably share some parts with conventional optical defects detecting apparatus.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for process variation monitor


Systems and methods for use in introducing samples to an analytical instrument. The systems and methods are adaptable to process either a liquid sample or a gaseous sample, including samples containing particle contaminants, for subsequent analysis using an analytical instrument.

Mass analysis, and more particularly mass spectrometry, is an effective analytical technique for identifying unknown compounds and for determining the precise mass of known compounds. Advantageously, compounds can be detected or analyzed in minute quantities, allowing compounds to be identified at very low concentrations in chemically complex mixtures. Mass spectrometry, including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ("ICP-MS") has found practical application in a variety of fields, including medicine, pharmacology, food sciences, semi-conductor manufacturing, environmental sciences, and security.
A typical mass spectrometer includes an ion source that ionizes particles of interest. Conventional ion sources may, for example, create ions by electrospray or chemical ionization. The ions are passed to an analyzer region, where they are separated according to their mass (m)-to-charge (z) ratios (m/z). The separated ions are then detected at a detector. A signal from the detector may be sent to a computing or similar device where the m/z ratios may be stored together with their relative abundance for presentation in the format of an m/z spectrum.
In ICP-MS analysis, samples are introduced into an argon plasma as aerosol droplets. The plasma dries the aerosol, dissociates the molecules, then removes an electron from the components, thereby forming singly-charged ions, which are directed into a mass filtering device known as a mass spectrometer.
Most ICP-MS instruments include the following components: a sample introduction system composed of a nebulizer and spray chamber; an ICP torch and RF coil for generating the argon plasma that serves as the ion source; an interface that links the atmospheric pressure ICP ion source to a high vacuum mass spectrometer; a vacuum system that provides high vacuum for ion optics, a quadrupole, and a detector; a collision/reaction cell that precedes the mass spectrometer and is used to remove interferences that can degrade achievable detection limits; ion optics that guide the desired ions into the quadrupole while assuring that neutral species and photons are discarded from the ion beam; a mass spectrometer that acts as a mass filter to sort ions by their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z); a detector that counts individual ions exiting the quadrupole; and a data handling and system controller that controls aspects of instrument control and data handling for use in obtaining final concentration results.
Various suitable systems and methods exist for ionizing liquid samples containing analyte(s) of interest into a fine aerosol jet of droplets. Typically, a nebulizer gas flow is involved in this dispensing process and an impinging heater gas flow assists droplet desolvation. In the case of an ICP-MS system where the plasma is comprised of argon gas, the aerosol droplets may be exchanged with another carrier gas, such as argon, prior to introduction to the analytical instrument to avoid e.g., disturbance of the argon-based plasma.
Systems for preparing liquid samples for analysis are not configured to handle gaseous samples in gas form. When it is desired to analyze gaseous samples, separate equipment must be purchased and used. Typically, the gas sample must first be converted to a liquid sample by infusing the gas sample in water or another liquid prior to introduction to the nebulizer, etc.
Alternatively, certain systems for preparing gaseous samples typically include a gas particulation device coupled with a gas exchange device. These systems also are not interchangeable between liquid samples and gaseous samples. When the sample is in gas form and the analytical device is e.g., an ICP-MS, there is also a challenge of being able to calibrate the system as calibration standards are typically liquid.
Currently, one system is not capable of being utilized to analyze both liquid samples and gaseous samples without having to convert the gaseous samples to liquid samples.

System for introducing particle-containing samples to an analytical instrument and methods of use

PerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada, Inc.


An information processing apparatus that allows a display to show a plurality of windows on a same screen is disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes: a detecting means for detecting a signal sent in response to a press of a button allocated on a remote controller; a control means for outputting to an operating system a signal indicating that a first key and a second key provided on a keyboard are pressed and allowing the operating system to switch a representation on the display when the detecting means detects that a first button provided on the remote controller is pressed in accordance with a state of the representation on the display; and a measuring means for measuring a time period from the detection of a signal corresponding to the press of the first button.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a display control method, and a program, particularly to an information processing apparatus, a display control method, and a program, in which a single one of buttons provided on a remote controller is used to do the same manipulations as a plurality of manipulations done by using keys provided on a keyboard.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a personal computer mounted with an AV (Audio Visual) function is popular. Among personal computers, some of them have a remote controller as an accessory as similar to AV appliances such as a television receiver and a hard disk recorder.
A user uses the remote controller to switch the channels of television programs displayed on the personal computer, or to adjust the volume of music to be reproduced on the personal computer.
JP-A-5-119956 (Patent Reference 1) discloses a technique in which the screen representation of a program currently run on an OS (Operating System) is switched.

Information processing apparatus, display control method, and program for controlling a display of the information processing apparatus based on an input received from a remote controller


A mechanism is described for facilitating general purpose input/output data capture and neutral cache system for autonomous machines. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes capturing, by an image capturing device, one or more images of one or more objects, where the one or more images represent input data associated with a neural network. The method may further include determining accuracy of first output results generated by a default neural caching system by comparing the first output results with second output results predicted by a custom neural caching system. The method may further include outputting, based on the accuracy, a final output results including at least one of the first output results or the second output results.

Autonomous machines, such as robots, require real-time recognition and control tasks, such as simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM), to maintain balance between accelerometer and other sensor data or when recognizing objects in a specific working place. Such takes are complex and expensive to implement with conventional general purpose computer algorithms and hardware. Even neural network algorithms and hardware, when used, require training on all specific circumstances and thus they are not very useful for the varied and unanticipated environments that autonomous machines often encounter.

General purpose input/output data capture and neural cache system for autonomous machines


Method and system for unpacking objects produced by means of additive manufacturing from a granular material in a job box. The objects are unpacked from a non-solidified granular material by means of the method once they are produced, starting from the arrangement of said objects and said granular material on a platform of the box. The platform includes holes to discharge the granular material, said holes being opened in a controlled manner for said discharge and for separating the objects from the granular material, the objects being unpacked. To perform the unpacking, a controlled inclination of the box in different directions is caused, with the holes of the platform being open, for shifting the granular material around and making the discharge thereof through said holes easier.

Sand cores are generally made in conventional sand making machines where a mold defines the shape of the core to be made in each making cycle (or of the cores to be made). The material used for making the cores is then poured into the mold, and said material is hardened or cured to render the result solid. Said result is the sand core. The material used is a granular material (a type of sand) mixed with at least one additive or binder (a type of resin, for example).
In recent years, use of another sand core making methods has been implemented: additive manufacturing or 3D manufacturing. In additive manufacturing, the objects (cores) are produced from a granular material and an additive solidifying the sand. The sand and the additive are arranged in layers in a job box, on a platform of the job box, the additive layers being applied only on the granular material of interest (and depending on the shape of the object to be produced). At the end of the process, the produced objects and solidified by means of the additive, as well as the granular material that has not been impregnated with the additive (non-solidified granular material) remain in the job box. It is therefore necessary to separate the objects from said non-solidified granular material, i.e., it is necessary to unpack the objects.
Although the objects thus produced are in solid state, they are generally fragile and it is often impossible to handle them with robots in order to separate them from the non-solidified granular material since the risk of breaking them is high. It is therefore necessary to use other less aggressive methods for unpacking them. One known method is to use platforms for the job box with holes that can be opened in a controlled manner such that upon opening them, the non-solidified granular material present in said job box is discharged through said holes by gravity.
A problem in systems of this type is that not all the non-solidified granular material is left facing the holes, so it is often impossible to discharge said material, or at least the required part, through said holes. To solve this problem, patent document US2015/0258744A1 describes a system in which additional holes are incorporated in the platform and a fluid is introduced from below and through said holes for generating a fluidized bed of the non-solidified granular material present in the job box. This requires at least using additional injection nozzles and filters, and furthermore, this solution does not assure that the fluid will be able to reach all of the non-solidified granular material, particularly the material arranged on the objects and/or in the upper part of the work chamber.
Patent document WO2007/139938A2 discloses a method and apparatus for handling powder in a 3D printer. The apparatus includes a means of transporting powder from multiple sources to a powder dispensing apparatus, and a vibration mechanism to cause a vibration to assist in the removal of powder.


A vehicle control apparatus comprises various sensors sensitive to vehicle operating parameters for producing signals having values sensed for the respective vehicle operating parameters. The vehicle control apparatus also comprises a transition detector. The transition detector includes a memory for storing threshold values specified for the respective vehicle operating parameters, and a comparator for comparing the sensed values with the respective threshold values in a predetermined sequence to sense a transition in one of the vehicle operating parameters when the value sensed for the one vehicle operating parameter is in a range defined by the threshold value specified for the one vehicle operating parameter. The transition detector is coupled to a control unit for controlling the automotive vehicle for the sensed transition.

This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle and, more particularly, to a vehicle control apparatus employing an event detector for detecting an event defined by one or more transistions. The term "transition" as used through this invention is intended to mean "a specified condition for each of selected vehicle operating parameters". For example, an "engine speed" transition occurs when the measured engine speed value exceeds a threshold value specified therefor. A "throttle position" transition occurs when the throttle switch moves from its on position to its off position. The term "event" as used throughout this invention is intended to mean "a vehicle operating condition change requiring a specified control". An event is defined or determined by a single transition or a plurality of transitions. For example, an "acceleration" event may be defined by a single transition which occurs when the idle switch moves from its on position to its off position. Another event may be defined when three transitions occur, that is, when the engine speed is greater than a threshold value specified therefor, when the engine coolant temperature is greater than a threshold value specified therefor and when the throttle switch moves from its on position to its off position. This sense of term "event" is found in an article published January 1980, in IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Vol. SE-6, No. 1, entitled "Specifying Software Requirements for Complex System: New Techniques and Their Applications".
Micro-computers have been employed in various vehicle control apparatus. Since such conventional vehicle control apparatus are designed to handle each event in a background loop or an interrupt routine entered at uniform intervals of time, however, they have much delay in responding to the event, causing increased pollutant emissions, fuel economy losses, undesirable feelings to the driver, and the like.

Event detector used vehicle control apparatus


A system and method including a semiconductor laser source configured to output radiation over a range of wavelengths at a prescribed rate to a device under test. The prescribed rate is sufficiently above environmental frequency bands. A detector is configured to detect output radiation from the device under test to obtain a detected signal associated with at least one physical property associated with the incident radiation over the range of wavelengths at the prescribed rate. The detected signal includes environmental signal and target signal from the device under test. A processor isolates the environmental signal from the detected signal; and processes the target signal to obtain dispersion information of the device under test. A system output is configured to output the dispersion information of the device under test.

It is well known that light pulses propagating along an optical fiber become broader and can eventually overlap one another. This phenomenon is known as dispersion. Interferometric optical dispersion measurement systems have been in existence for some time. In these conventional systems, acoustic or vibrational noise in the environment of the measurement hardware can have a significant impact on the variability of the measurement. This is because the frequencies of interest for the dispersion measurement are well within the 200 Hz to 200 KHz audio band. It is difficult to separate the signals generated by the vibration or acoustic perturbance from the desired dispersion-induced signal. With such conventional systems, it is not uncommon to need an isolated table, and for people near the test site to refrain from speaking loudly during a dispersion measurement test.

System and method of measurement frequency shifting to isolate external environmental conditions for interferometric dispersion measurements


Tone control of an electronic musical instrument is provided using fuzzy inferences for determining musical tone control parameters such as pitch, sounding level, effect, overtone composition, playing methods, etc. Several different kinds of play information are derived from controls operated by the performer and selectively taken into account using fuzzy inference rules to derive the musical tone control parameters. Several different types of play information, such as initial touch, after touch, key-on time, etc., may thus be combined to provide delicate nuances to the musical performance providing a more natural sounding tone and providing the capability to give the musical tone an expression corresponding to a method or technique of a musical performance.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of controlling a musical tone by controlling the parameters used for the generation of musical tones or the parameters used for the output of musical tones in the electronic musical instrument designed to electronically generate and output the musical tone.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At present various electronic musical instruments designed to electronically generate musical tones are available. In addition to the popular keyboard type musical instruments, electronic wind instruments and electronic stringed instruments (guitar type) are also available. These electronic musical instruments have various controls (for example, key switches). When the controls are operated (played), the musical tone generated is controlled based on the play information. For example, the keyboard type electronic musical instrument is provided with a keyboard of about 4 to 7.5 octaves as a control section (each key corresponds to semitone sound pitch C, C#, D, Eb . . . ), a key-on sensor for detecting ON-OFF of a key for each key, an initial touch sensor for detecting the key touch intensity (initial touch), and an after-touch sensor for detecting the key depress intensity (after-touch). Moreover, in addition to the keyboard, this musical instrument is provided also with a pedal and a wheel type control section. The wind instrument type electronic musical instrument is provided with a key system similar to that of a wood-wind instrument as a control section, a mouth piece, a sensor for detecting the operation state of each key, a breath sensor for detecting the intensity of blow-in air and a lip sensor for detecting the pressure applied to the reed. The following musical tone elements are controlled based on the play information obtained from the above-mentioned control section.
Sound pitch: Pitch of sound (absolute sound name);
Pitch: Insignificant change of frequency at the same
sound pitch;
Sounding level: Sound volume;
Envelope: Change of sounding level due to attack or decay;
Vibrato: Periodic change of pitch;
Tremolo: Periodic change of sounding level;
Reverb: Reverberation after key-off; and
Overtone: Harmonic overtone of musical tone (brightness-calmness of sound changes depending on the ratio of high-order overtone component).
These musical tone control parameters are specified. These musical tone control parameters are used to control the sound source section to output the sound, generating expressive musical tones. The electronic musical instrument having such a configuration is sometimes required to give delicate expression to the musical tone so as to enhance the play effect. For this purpose one musical tone control parameter is conventionally controlled by using several types of play information.
For example, the following are musical tone control parameters and the play information therefor.
Vibrato (periodic change of pitch (frequency) of musical tone): After-touch, modulation wheel information, key-on time, breath intensity, etc.
Tremolo (periodic change of sound level (volume)): After-touch, modulation wheel information, key-on time, breath intensity, etc.
Reverb: After-touch, etc.
Pitch: After-touch, breath intensity, pitch bend wheel information, etc.
Overtone: Initial touch, after-touch, key-on time, modulation wheel information, etc.
However, in the case when one musical tone control parameter is specified based on several types of play information in the conventional electronic musical instrument, the control value is individually determined based on each play information and one musical tone control parameter is specified by adding or multiplying these control values. Such a parameter specifying system requires specifying individual control values for each play information and needs a long time for arithmetic operation, resulting in delayed sounding. Moreover, in the case when the sum (or product) of several control values is excessively large, it cannot be suppressed, and thus excessive control is performed, resulting in an unfavorable sounding of musical tones.
To express the nuance similar to that obtained from the natural musical instrument by using the electronic musical instrument, the musical tone must be controlled by the total arithmetic operation of various types of play information. If this arithmetic operation is performed by applying the conventional control for each play information and the general algorithm program, the arithmetic operation takes too long a time so that the conventional method cannot be applied for practical use. If the operation speed of the arithmetic operation equipment is increased, its size is increased and its price rises. The available expression methods for musical instrument playing are the method of adjusting the note value and sound link such as legato, tenuto, staccato, etc.; the method of increasing and decreasing the sound level such as crescendo and decrescendo; and the method of changing the tempo such as retardando and accelerand, etc. The conventional electronic musical instruments are designed so that these effects are generally expressed by the manual operation of the player. For example, the effect of tenuto is expressed by gradually intensifying the after-touch, while the effect of decrescendo is expressed by gradually reducing the after-touch.
In some cases, however, the mechanism of the playing control section and the function of the sensor are insufficient to accept the intention of the player (for instance, a player could not apply portamento of the required speed when playing the keyboard type electronic musical instrument). The conventional electronic musical instrument is unable to express the play which cannot be detected by the sensor or the playing control section or can express only the preset play. Accordingly, they could not give expressive musical tones.
In the case when the player does not have a sufficient playing skill yet to express the specific playing method (for example, if the player is unable to express sufficiently vibrato or pitchvendo with after-touch and breath control), the intended effects are perceived as unstable sound volume or pitch deviation by the listeners, thereby resulting in improper sound tone. The conventional electronic musical instrument does not have a function to compensate for it, as a result of which improper musical tone is emitted. This is a defect of the conventional electronic musical instrument.

Method and apparatus for controlling an electronic musical instrument using fuzzy logic


A particle control screen assembly for a perforated pipe used in a well, a sand filter system, and methods of making same are provided. The screen assembly includes a woven mesh filter media disposed about the perforated pipe, and a protective wrapper disposed about the filter media. The protective wrapper comprises an outer perforated layer and an inner layer that is disposed between the outer layer and the filter media. A surface of the inner layer that faces the outer perforated layer has a non-smooth contour, with this surface of the inner layer having portions in direct contact with an inner surface of the outer layer. The inner layer is provided with apertures that are disposed in such a way that fluid cannot flow from the outer surface of the outer perforated layer directly radially both through holes of the outer layer and through the apertures of the inner layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new particle control screen assembly for a perforated pipe used in a well, to a sand filter system, and to methods of making the same.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known to provide a particle control screen assembly for a perforated pipe used in a well, the assembly including a woven mesh filter media means disposed about the perforated pipe, and a protective wrapper means disposed about the filter media means. See the U.S. Patent to Padden, U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,084; and the U.S. Patent to Whitebay et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,048.
It is also known to provide a protective wrapper means that comprises two cylindrical, spaced-apart tubes that are each provided with holes. See U.S. Patent to Fast, U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,938. The cylindrical walls of the tubes are very thick for erosion control, and although the holes of the respective cylindrical tubes are offset relative to one another, tangential flow through the holes of the outer tube allow relatively direct impingement of fluid from the outside against the filter media means. In addition, due to the thick walls and the spacing between them, this known well screen has a large outer diameter.

Particle control screen assembly for a perforated pipe used in a well, a sand filter system, and methods of making the same


A memory module contains a set of contacts configured to contact a second set of contacts on a memory module connector when the memory module is removed from the connector. The contacts on the connector can be activated. The memory module is configured to erase data on the memory module in response to the set of contacts on the memory module contacting the set of contacts on the connector when the set of contacts on the connector is activated.

The present disclosure relates to computer memory, and more specifically, to computer memory data security.
Growing memory usage presents numerous data security challenges. Non-volatile memory modules present a unique challenge as data is retained when power is lost. Thus, hackers may be able to remove a memory module and obtain access to the data if it is not secured properly.

International Business Machines Corporation


An automotive body glass product, comprising: (a) a laminated glass having its perimeter painted to obscure the presence of applied adhesives; (b) conductive leads on or in the glass and having one or more conductive lead terminals; (c) an ultra thin pad of noble metal deposited onto a small zone of the glass in connection with at least one terminal; and (d) a conductive metal clip connected to the end of each lead path, said clip having a dimple thereof bonded to the pad by inertial welding of the dimple and noble metal pad material.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the technology of friction welding or friction soldering, and more particularly to bonding conductive metallic members to fragile non-metallic parts, such as glass.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The earliest use of friction welding was to merge together two stiff conductive metal parts, such as two rods, one being rapidly rotated while it was pressed with a linear forging force against the end of the other rod end that remained relatively stationary; this caused interactive friction to melt the mating end surfaces. Recrystallization to a solid metallic joint occurred upon removal of the rotary-forging force. Sometimes a meltable solder was placed adjacent to the friction generating surfaces to be the melted as a substitute for melting the surface of the parts; such meltable solder, when recrystallized, created the bond between the parts.
Friction welding was adapted to the electrical industry. A conductive lead pin was rotated and forged to a conductive plug or head (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,843). Particular care had to be taken to allow the plug to rotate with the pin when the metallic interface between the pin and plug began to melt. In some cases the rotary motion was replaced by a vibrating motion, provided one member or part was soft and ductile enough to be deformed by pressing of the tool therebetween and thus ensure a frictional interengagement at a desirable location (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,006).
A special problem in the automotive industry which has never been addressed by the technology of friction welding is the need for joining terminals of electrical wires or leads that are embedded in glass windows, such as a vehicle windshield, backlite (the rear window) or body glass. Such wires can serve as a radio or cellular phone antenna, heater, security circuit, or keyless entry means. Such terminals may be a conductive clip arranged at a location on the perimeter of the glass which receives the end of a wiring harness that will extend into the vehicle interior to be operative. The clips are currently bonded to the glass by adhesives, or are soldered using hot air, flame, resistance heating, or other external heating methods that risk cracking the glass.

Friction welding non-metallics to metallics


First, a system for providing direct field technical, troubleshooting, engineering analysis, equipment performance and efficiency analysis, new equipment and parts information, invoicing and sales support by means of data input and data retrieval in the field through the use by field located personnel of a hand-held, wireless communication device that allows direct field communication with a base or service provider master computer and software programs. Finally, utilization of a base or service provider located mater computer and software programs to provide all the primary computing processes needed to support a limited field located data entry and retrieval device that could further use the input data to establish a master computer file for a customer, equipment, performance and invoicing database.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the utilization of a wireless hand held communication device that is capable of direct data entry by a field person such as a technician or engineer, of field-acquired data which is then transmitted by the wireless device to a base computer system whereupon the field-acquired data can be operated on by a software program running on the base computer and the computed data resulting thereof transmitted to the hand held communication device for display to field person or for on-site utilization or printing.
2. Description of the Background Art
During the course of performing repairs or maintenance to equipment, field technicians typically travel to the equipment site in order to obtain data concerning the equipment. Then, upon returning to their offices, such field-acquired data is used to analyze the equipment and determine an appropriate course of action for the repair or maintenance of such equipment. The field technician must then travel again to the equipment site in order to implement the appropriate repair or maintenance of the equipment.
There currently exists a need for a system that enables a field technician to obtain data in the field and transmit it to a base computer that is programmed to utilize the field-acquired data and compute a repair or maintenance analysis and an appropriate regime or methodology for implementing such repair or maintenance.
An object of the present invention is to provide a handheld wireless communication device for providing the ability to input field or remote location acquired data and information and transmitting said data and information to a base located computer system or service provider.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for the utilization of various software programs that said data and information is input into at the base located computer system or service provider.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for the utilization of the wireless communication device by the field person to receive requested, developed information based on the data input by said field person.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system that allows for acquiring customer information in order to compile and maintain records of system performance and efficiency, and service and repair history.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system for providing field personnel the ability to input data and information that would result in information concerning the actual field tested efficiency and performance being transmitted back via the wireless communication device to said field personnel after processing of the input data.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system that can be utilized to select a specific desired function, such as troubleshooting assistance whereby personnel in a field location or situation may utilize the system to request trouble shooting assistance and following the guidelines provided by the system interact by inputting data and receiving data back and forth until the best solution is found, or the most probable problem is identified.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system for providing field personnel the ability to compare the existing systems actual current cost of operation to various new, more efficient systems, first by providing for data input by the field personnel for determining which new system(s) would be used for comparison purposes and then by calculating data and information based on the field personnel selections and data input as well as utilizing the cost data available in the base located computer database which is then transmitted back to the field personnel or e-mailed directly to a potential client or customer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication and computer software system for providing field personnel the ability to input data relating to equipment or systems brand name, make, model number and serial number in order to access a database for parts of components needed to effect repair of said equipment or systems, and to determine the prices for those parts or components needed. Said parts information and prices then transmitted back to the field personnel via the wireless communication device. Further, the system could be set up to place the order for the parts directly with a supplier or parts distributor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system for providing field personnel the ability to order parts, through the base located computer or service provider, or to directly transmit the order to the proper parts distributor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system whereby field personnel can access a database for new equipment, and prices for the new equipment requested. This information based on new equipment availability, specifications and pricing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system for providing field personnel the ability to order new equipment through the base located computer or service provider, or to directly transmit the order to the proper new equipment distributor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system for providing field personnel the ability to input data and information that would be utilized to generate invoices for equipment or system(s) repair or replacement. A portable printer utilized with the field located wireless communication device could print invoices directly from data transmitted form the base located system or service provider. At the same time, this information could be transferred to the customer's file within the database and also added to the equipment repair and service profile summary. The system could also be set up to "e-mail" the invoice directly to the customer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and computer software system whereby field personnel could input data and access databases in order to generate quotations for new equipment or repairs. A portable printer utilized with the field located wireless communication device could print quotations directly from the data transmitted from the base located computer or service provider, or could be "e-mailed" to the customer's computer via the Internet. At the same time, this quotation and associated data would be transferred to the customer's file within the database and also added to the pending sales file.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and method utilizing existing hardware devices coupled to specific usage and comprising both the hardware and software in direct communication with each other.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and method utilizing existing hardware and software coupled to specific usage and comprising both hardware and software in communication with a central service provider or base located computer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and method comprising either a base source computer system for direct communication or a service provider's computer system, both utilizing the specifically programmed software.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and method which incorporates specific software containing forms for data input and information fields utilized in the specific usage of the hardware and software.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and method that incorporates databases sourced by the specifically programmed software programs, contained in either a base source computer system or from a service provider's computer system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for the utilization of a wireless communication device and method comprising the application to specific industries and trades such as the HVACR industry and trade, the pluming industry and trade, the electrical industry and trade, the electronics industry and trade, the appliance industry and trade and any other industry or trade that is service oriented.
The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Wireless communication device for field personnel


Modified nigrosine which has satisfactory dispersibility in resin and which reduces the residual aniline amount is offered, and its production method is also offered. Moreover, toner for developing electrostatic charge images is offered, which uses modified nigrosine colorant that resolves the aforementioned problems, which has excellent charge-imparting properties, which exhibits no fogging, which experiences no scattering of toner inside the developing apparatus, and which has little fluctuation of image density.

As a toner for use in electrophotographic copiers or printers, a positively charged toner is used. As a charge controlling agent in this positively charged toner, one may use nigrosine dye, triphenylmethane dye, quaternary ammonium salt, and so on. However, these positive-charge-imparting charge controlling agents comport many problems. For example, quaternary ammonium salt has a low charge-imparting ability, as a result, toner images using it tend to experience fogging and reduced image density as the number of copy sheets multiplies. Triphenylmethane dye tend to cause reduction in charge quantity if used under conditions of a high temperature and a high humidity, and contamination of the fixing roll occurs due to the fact that the pigment in the toner tends to bleed on the surface.
Nigrosine has high positive-charge-imparting properties, and is an excellent charge controlling agent, but its charging performance, thermal properties and so on are greatly affected by the production method. As a result, problems that impair print quality tend to occur, e.g., dispersibility in toner resin does not stabilize, and fogging, reduced image density, toner scattering and the like occur as copying is repeated.
In order to resolve such problems, an approach has been adopted where nigrosine is modified with high-acid-value resin having an acid value on the order of 130 to 300, and this is added to the positively charged toner as a charge controlling agent. To be sure, nigrosine that has been modified with high-acid-value resin has better dispersibility than non-modified nigrosine in toner resin. However, even with nigrosine that has undergone such treatment, dispersibility in toner resin still does not reach a level that is satisfactory in practical terms, and further improvement is called for.
Nigrosine is a bluish-black or black colorant, and is manufactured by heating aniline and nitrobenzene to 160° C.-180° C. in the presence of ferric chloride, iron and hydrochloric acid to engender their reaction. After the reaction, the aniline and nitrobenzene are neutralized by adding an alkaline aqueous solution to the reaction liquid, and the aniline layer is fractionated. Subsequently, treatment with alkali is conducted to render it base, and washing, filtration, drying and pulverization processes are executed to manufacture the product.
There is residual aniline in the nigrosine manufactured in this way. In gas chromatography analysis by the fusion method, more than 2,000 ppm of aniline is ordinarily detected (with respect to the analytic conditions, see the section entitled "Best mode for carrying out the invention"). Were the residual aniline in the nigrosine to flow out to the environment, not only would it be hazardous, but if the nigrosine were used as the charge controlling agent of the toner, it would also cause the charging performance of the toner to deteriorate, the fluidity of the toner to decrease, and so on. As aniline in excess of 2,000 ppm has been detected even in conventional resin-modified nigrosine, where the nigrosine is modified with high acid value resin, there is a need not only to improve the aforementioned dispersibility, but also to reduce the amount of residual aniline.
Various studies have been conducted on methods for reducing the amount of this residual aniline. For example, as aniline reduction methods for nigrosine, the following methods, among others, are conceivable (e.g., see patent literature 1):                (1) a method which washes and removes nigrosine by an aniline-soluble solution;        (2) a method which adds a solvent with a boiling point of 100-230° C., and which conducts heating and pressure reduction to remove aniline together with the solvent;        (3) a method which conducts removal by heating and pressure reduction;        (4) a method which conducts removal by heating at normal pressure.
Furthermore, there is another method where nigrosine manufactured by the normal manufacturing techniques is dispersed in a solvent, oxidation treatment is conducted by adding an oxidizing agent, and steam distillation is conducted (e.g., see patent literature 2). However, it is difficult to dissolve and remove the residual aniline in the nigrosine by the aforementioned method (1), while with the other methods that require heating, the nigrosine undergoes re-aggregation and forms hard particles, as a result, dispersibility in toner resin markedly deteriorates.
Patent literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H6-230611 (25th paragraph)
Patent literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-311652 (24th paragraph)

Modified nigrosine, its production method, and toner for developing electrostatic charge images using this modified nigrosine

Abstract: Modified nigrosine, which is nigrosine (b) that has been modified by rosin-modified resin (a) with an acid value of 110 or less.