The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for varying a usable band range of a battery. The apparatus for varying a usable band range of a battery according to the present invention comprises a sensor for measuring and outputting an electrical characteristic value of the battery; and a controller for calculating the amount of charged or discharged energy of the battery from the electrical characteristic value and varying a usable band range of the battery that is charged and discharged, to maintain the pre-established amount of usable energy depending on the degradation degree of the battery. In accordance with the present invention, a usable band range of a battery can be established depending on the degradation degree of the battery, thereby improving the life time thereof.

A secondary battery has high applicability depending on a product group and excellent electrical characteristics such as high energy density, and thus is commonly used as an electric power source of electric vehicles (EV), hybrid vehicles (HV) and energy storage systems.
A battery tends to gradually degrade in terms of its performance during repeated charging and discharging cycles. Such a degradation of the battery may be confirmed by the gradual decrease in capacity as the charging/discharging cycle of the battery increases.
The degradation of the battery is mainly due to the irreversibility of an electrochemical reaction. That is, when the charging/discharging cycle of the battery increases, the characteristics of a substance which participates in an electrochemical reaction is deteriorated by an aging effect, so the electrochemical reaction is not reversibly carried out during a charging and discharging process.
As well known in the art, the degradation of the battery brings about the decrease of usable electrical energy, thereby decreasing the use time of an instrument or device which is supplied with the energy from the battery and deteriorating output characteristics. For example, in the case a battery of an electrical vehicle is degraded, the amount of distance driven by one charge cycle decreases under the same condition. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a battery-related technology capable of maintaining the performance of an electrical vehicle regardless of the degradation of a battery.
Meanwhile, interest of a smart grid has been increasing recently due to the depletion of fossil fuels. The smart grid is based on a dispersion power management model, and stores dump power in a bulk power storage apparatus to use the remaining power in a power system later. Since a power storage apparatus has characteristics of having to be used for a long period once it is installed, it is important for a battery used in the power storage apparatus to maintain uniform output characteristics for a long period, rather than have high output characteristics, unlike a battery used in an electrical vehicle. However, if a charging and discharging process is repeated under the condition of an appointed voltage range, the battery capacity decreases, thereby failing to maintain constant output characteristics thereof. Accordingly, there is a need for maintaining a constant battery capacity regardless of the degradation of the battery.

Apparatus and method for varying usable band range of battery


The present invention provides for an apparatus for supporting stacking of a top heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit on top of a bottom HVAC unit. The apparatus includes a base member configured to mount to a top cover of the bottom HVAC unit. The base member comprises an upper base portion with a top surface configured to receive at least a portion of a base rail of the top HVAC unit. The apparatus further comprises a stacking insert extending away from the base member. The stacking insert has one or more sloped surfaces extending above the top surface of the upper base portion. The top surface extends from a base of the one or more sloped surfaces in a plane substantially parallel to the top cover, when the base member is mounted to the top cover of the bottom HVAC unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stacking of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units and, more particularly, to devices to support stacking heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units.
2. Description of Related Art
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units are typically transported in an enclosed van or on a flatbed. Wood crating members mounted around the HVAC unit provide protection to the surfaces and internal components of the HVAC unit when the HVAC units are bumped, jostled, or otherwise disturbed during transport.
The HVAC units may be stacked one top HVAC unit on a bottom HVAC unit because of space constraints and to save on transportation costs. The wood crating members may provide protection to the top surface of the HVAC bottom unit by separating the bottom of the top HVAC unit, referred to as a rail, from the top surface. Wood crating may also be used in the storage of stacked HVAC units, for example storage at a warehouse.
An HVAC unit may also be strapped to a flatbed truck, either as a single HVAC unit where one or more straps extend across the top of the single HVAC unit or in a stacked configuration, where the straps extend across the top of the top HVAC unit.
The use of wood crating increases the materials and labor costs related to storage or transport of HVAC units. The wood crating further increases costs to contractors that install the HAVC units and generates waste that must be disposed of by the contractors or the HVAC unit owners. Accordingly, devices or methods are needed that reduce or eliminate materials and labor costs and waste related to the protection of the surfaces and internal components of the HVAC units during transport and storage.


A multi-agent tri-daily comestible of vitamin, mineral, plant extracts, aminos, neurochemical precursors, enzymes, and Ph regulating agents which supply key elements necessary for proper metabolization and function of the human body delivered at specific times of the daily biocycle when the need for such specific agents exists in order to maximize the body's extra- and intra-cellular matrix to cellular and biochemical protective and repair mechanisms utilized to deter the effects of otherwise normal aging.

The principal purpose of the instant invention is that of a provision of a program of oral supplementation to augment what is termed the cellular soup. The cellular soup constitutes extra-cellular and intra-cellular fluid which acts to nourish the extra-cellular matrix, such as tissue and nerves, and the intra-cellular matrix which comprises the inner structure of the cells, this including the cell nucleus and the mitrocondria which are the energy producing elements within every living cell. The cell nucleus is where most genetic functions occur including the aging process. Accordingly, proper nourishment to the cell nucleus and mitrocondria is an essential aspect of any anti-aging therapy.
Within the cellular soups are many organic compounds which affect the metabolic process. These including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, pre-hormones (known as hormonal precursors), co-factors, and anti-oxidants. Each of these agents affect the cellular soup and thereby human metabolism in a particular and distinct fashion. Also, all are necessary to maintain proper metabolic function and to revitalize the basic constituents of the cellular soup to effect cell repair, notably, the cell nucleus and mitochondria to halt, and to a substantial extent, reverse the aging process.
It is accordingly essential to maintain, within the cellular soup, high levels of antioxidants, hormonal precursors, RNA, DNA and other agents which otherwise decrease with age. Accordingly, by vitalizing, and continually revitalizing, the cellular soup, essential components of cells of the human body will not sense "environmental changes" which they have been genetically taught to associate with the aging process. Therefore, to the extent that contemporary knowledge of genetics has been able to relate the aging process to the status of metabolic functions, the basic building blocks of cell, namely, its nucleus and mitochondria, can be deceived into believing that no age-related metabolic changes have occurred and, therefore, that there is no reason to change their normal reproductive function of cell replacement.
In other words, the aging process is believed to relate to the failure of cell components such as the cell nucleus to continue to replicate otherwise healthy cells. This is believed to occur as a result of damage which occurs to essential cell components resultant of drops in levels of key chemical agents, including specifically those set forth above. These agents will typically diminish as a result of reduction in efficiency over time of glands and organs in the human body. Reductions in such key chemical agents are believed to cause damage to the RNA and DNA in each cell nucleus which thereby reduces the ability of the cell to reproduce itself which ultimately brings on the aging process which yet further accelerates a drop in body's production of the key agents set forth above. Accordingly, the essential problem in stopping the aging process is that of maintaining appropriate levels of key metabolic agents so that the genetic material within each cell will not become damaged or otherwise lose efficiency. Stated otherwise, it is believed that the genetic material of each cell has no way of knowing how old it is, except with reference to the intra-cellular fluid in which it is immersed. So that, if the extra-cellular fluid is kept youthful, the genetic material within each cell will continue to function in a normal fashion, without decrease in efficiency thereof.
Also of importance in halting the aging process is maintaining the health of the cell surface membrane which is the surface which delineates the extra-from the intra cellular fluid. This cell surface membrane mediates flow of essential metabolic agents between the extra-and intra cellular fluid through the function of receptor sites upon the surface membrane of each cell. There exist numerous types of receptor sites which regulate a wide variety of amino acids, hormonal and anti-oxidant transfer between the extra and intra cellular fluids. Also, the cell surface membrane plays an essential role in the function of so-called ionic pathways between the extra and intra cellular fluid, these facilitating the movement of certain agents, such as minerals, which move electro statically between the extra and intra cellular fluid.
The present invention may, accordingly, be viewed in terms of an oral supplementation program designed to restore the integrity of the cellular soup, to neutralize efficiency-impeding end products of metabolism which relate to the aging process, and to supply higher, more useful levels of anti-oxidants to better combat otherwise damaging free radicals. With such reduction of free radicals, essential hormonal pre-precursors, including neural hormonal precursors which are essential to the health of brain related glands and the central nervous system, and the building blocks of DNA are preserved. The instant oral therapy program is therefore designed to supplement all cell matrices to thereby ensure provision of necessary hormonal precursors, enzymes, and other necessary building blocks of each cell.
Another key component of the present oral therapy is known as pH balancing factors. It has been found that normal cellular pH, i.e., should be in the range of 6.45 to 7.5. It has been found that if the extra or intra cellular fluid is either too acid (above said range) or too basic (below the range), the entire metabolic process will function suboptimally. Accordingly, the present oral supplementation, through its provision of blue/green algaes ensures the maintenance of a proper pH range in the cellular soup. It has, more particularly, been determined that in the absence of proper pH, the ability of the cell to properly reproduce polypeptide and proteins is impacted as is the functions of the cell regeneration and of signal transduction, i.e., production of the chemical messengers which enable cells and tissues to communicate with each other.
This invention more particularly relates to a multi-agent tri-daily comestible which allows the supply of the equivalent of numerous vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, supplements, neuro-hormonal precursors, with phytoextracts from plants and precursors for augmenting DNA repair and limiting DNA damage. This invention provides the key vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and several components of plants and algae which are not obtainable through the average daily diet.
The comestible is then taken three times daily in order to maximize the utilization of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, neurochemical precursors and other nutrients through matching the intake of the comestible with the needs of the body's natural bio-rhythm. Studies have shown that the administration of such vitamin and mineral supplements three times daily result in a much improved level of vitamin and mineral utilization, especially at the cellular level of metabolization. The aid in digestion of food helps the body as the body's own metabolization process decreases with age.
It has also been indicated in studies that key substances can be included that are particular to male or female requirements. Such substances include saw palmetto extract in the male supplement, which helps to alleviate prostrate enlargement, and melatonin as an important immuno-modulator which helps to prevent breast cancer in women. Accordingly, the present invention uses these two substances for the corresponding sexes in the evening doses.
It is thereby to be understood that the present oral supplementation program is designed to provide, at times corresponding to the body's natural bio-rhythm, essential pH balancing agents, hormonal precursors and DNA/RNA protecting agents. The maintenance of a proper level of hormones and hormone precursors is essential to maintain the ability of the body to produce such essential agents as insulin growth factor (IGF), the function of which is to provide growth hormones which, among other functions, stabilize the body against insulin reaction. The growth hormone is further responsible for enabling amino acids and polypeptides with the cell to reach the cell nucleus to thereby enable the cell to properly divide and regenerate itself. IGF also enables polypetides and amino acids to mediate the cellular membrane for the proper nourishment of the cell and helps other agents reach the intracellular fluid. Accordingly, hormone precursors are essential to optimize the body's hormonal response to aging. More particularly, the most significant hormones which relate to aging are believed to be released by the pituitary and thymus glands. As such, through the present oral supplementation program, key hormonal components are strategically enabled, thereby regulating age related hormones and hormone precursors.
A further benefit of the instant oral supplemental program is that of augmenting the key enzymes which aid in human digestion. That is, protecting and assisting the function of the stomach and intestinal system. It has been found that an individual that ingests all necessary metabolic agents will not necessarily achieve the above set forth anti-aging benefits if the digestive tract is unable to efficiently process such agents. Accordingly, an essential aspect of the present system is that of enhancing those enzymes which are essential to human digestion to assure that an individual employing the present system will be able to digest the same in an efficient way so that the anticipated benefits of the system can be realized.
In addition, it has been found that, with age, the efficiency of the intestine or gut will deteriorate. Accordingly, the ability to utilize nutrients in an efficient manner drops as a function of age, thereby accelerating the aging process. Thus, the present inventor has discovered that no program of nutrient and anti-free radical supplementation can be successful unless those enzymes which aid digestion and which otherwise protect the intestinal tract are a part of such a system.
The prior art, as is known to the inventor, consists of individual and multiple vitamin and supplements which only give partial benefits relative to those of the instant invention. None of the vitamin or mineral supplements, or other prior art known to the inventor, address the problem addressed by the instant invention. That is, no other vitamin or mineral supplement system provides needed supplements in a manner synchronous with the bio-rhythmic demands which dictate the timing of biologic need for specific doses of supplements which are required for specific times in the cell repair cycle.
The prior art in the present area is represented by such publications as Food, Nutrition, and Diet Therapy--a Textbook of Nutritional Care, by Krause and Mahan published by W. B. Saunders Co., 1984. This paper and others of its type properly recognize the effect of aging upon metabolic functions but fail to recognize that it is metabolic changes which affect the aging process, not vice versa. Further, the prior art as represented in the above does not recognize the effect of the daily bio-cycle upon the capacity of vital organs, such as the pituitary, thalamus and pancreas, in producing hormones as a function of the time of the day when hormone related agents are ingested. Further, the prior art does not adequately recognize the significance of the pH of cellular fluids in maintaining metabolic efficiency. Also, the prior art does not correlate efficiency of the digestive tract to capacity of an individual to efficiently metabolize essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and neuro hormonal precursors in order to form the essential hormones of the endocrine system. Accordingly, prior art therapies do no include digestive tract enzymes in any anti-aging regimen.

Method of metabolic adjuvanation and cellular repair


A zoom lens system comprising, in order from an object along an optical axis: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power; the following conditional expression being satisfied:0.6<Ymax×ft/f12<1.0where Ymax denotes the maximum image height of the zoom lens system, ft denotes a focal length of the zoom lens system in a telephoto end state, and f1 denotes a focal length of the first lens group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens system and an optical device equipped with the zoom lens.
2. Related Background Art
Recently, imaging apparatus (cameras) such as digital still cameras and digital video cameras using solid-state imaging devices have rapidly been attaining higher performances and more compact sizes. In general, these imaging apparatus employ zoom lens systems as their imaging lenses. The zoom lens systems allow photographers to easily take a picture with an optimal angle of view for a shooting condition. Though there have currently been strong demands for these zoom lens systems to achieve wider angle and higher variable power, only very few examples of zoom lens systems have been proposed which enable sufficiently telephoto shooting while having an angle of view of 70 to 80 degrees or greater in the wide-angle end state.
Known as an example achieving wider angle and higher variable power ratio at the same time is the lens system of Example 2 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-084829.

Zoom lens system, optical device with zoom lens system, and method of manufacturing zoom lens system


An improved Bernoulli end effector for holding, handling, and transporting ultra-thin substrates includes edge guides to aid in the positioning of the substrate and may include friction pads that impede motion of the substrate lifted by the end effector. The Bernoulli end effector may be incorporated into an apparatus and method for supinating a substrate so that both surfaces of the substrate can be processed. In addition, the Bernoulli end effector may be used to place ultra-thin substrates on and retrieve substrates from a substrate handling structure that includes weights that prevent the substrates from bowing or flexing during processing and includes guides that prevent the ultra-thin substrates from moving or translating on the surface of the substrate handling structure.

As portable electronic devices, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), and smart cards become smaller and thinner, so too must the integrated circuits from which they are fabricated. Thin circuits not only consume less space, they also allow for more functionality per unit volume, increase power dissipation, and provide for a mechanically flexible device that may conform to curved surfaces. Thin circuits are typically fabricated on ultra-thin substrates, such as ultra-thin silicon wafers. Typical dimensions of ultra-thin wafers are about 60 μm to 80 μm, while the theoretical limit for suitable thin wafers is about 10 μm.
Bernoulli end effectors have been used in various applications to handle thin substrates. Bernoulli end effectors use a support member with fluid exhaust ports brought into close proximity with the top side of a substrate. The exhaust ports are configured so that the gas flow creates a low pressure region on the top side of the substrate causing it to lift up toward the support member. The substrate can be lifted from a substantially flat surface and transported from the top side of the substrate without contacting the top side. Contacting a semiconductor wafer during processing typically contaminates it, thus decreasing the yield from individual semiconductor wafers.
A disadvantage of many prior art Bernoulli end effectors is that they do not provide guides to position the substrate, and thus do not provide for high precision centering of the substrate. Another disadvantage is that the holding mechanism restricts the transport motion to paths within a horizontal plane or perpendicular to a horizontal plane.
Disadvantages of thin substrates include processing difficulties, such as cracking, bowing, or flexing during lifting, holding, handling, and transporting the substrates. Bernoulli end effectors can transfer thin substrates, but many substrate cassettes and assembly area tools cannot accommodate them. Further, a method for processing both sides of a substrate is desirable, but supinating or flipping a substrate is difficult.


An electronic device includes a housing, a display, a touch sensor sensing a touch of an external object, a force sensor sensing pressure by the touch, and a processor that is electrically connected with the display. The touch sensor, the force sensor and a memory are electrically connected with the processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to activate at least part of the force sensor while the display is turned off, or while the display operates in a low-power mode, to perform a first function if pressure of a first level by the touch is sensed in the at least part of the force sensor. The processor also performs a second function associated with the first function if pressure of a second level by the touch is sensed in the force sensor while the first function is performed.

With the development of electronic technologies, various types of electronic products are being developed and distributed. In particular, an electronic device, which has a variety of functions, such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a wearable device is being widely supplied nowadays. The above-described electronic device may include a touch sensor as an input device for an intuitive input. Also, to make a three-dimensional input possible by sensing the intensity of a touch, nowadays, there is supplied an electronic device that is equipped with a force sensor configured to sense the intensity of the touch.
Even though an electronic device including the force sensor is supplied, a user interface using the force sensor is not yet fully developed. Advantages of the force sensor fail to be sufficiently used due to the absence of a user interface of a new manner that cannot be implemented by a conventional touch sensor.

Electronic device comprising force sensor


A spent liquor recovery boiler in the pulp and paper industry including a water/steam circulation system having superheaters, the circulation system connected to a steam turbine comprising a high-pressure part, and a furnace for burning spent liquor to produce flue gases, and including an upper portion through which the flue gases flow, wherein the steam/water circulation system of the recovery boiler is provided with a reheater for reheating steam from the high-pressure part of the turbine.

The invention relates to a spent liquor recovery boiler comprising a water/steam circulation system having superheaters and reheaters, and a furnace for burning spent liquor to produce hot flue gases, and including an upper portion through which the flue gases flow. The water/steam circulation system is connected to a steam turbine comprising a high-pressure stage and a medium-pressure stage. Live steam superheating and steam reheating are performed utilizing an arrangement with which corrosion can be reduced.
In chemical pulp mills, the cooking chemicals of a pulping process are recovered from spent liquor, e.g., black liquor in kraft pulping, by firing the liquor in a recovery boiler either alone or together with other "waste" streams. The firing process is exothermic and the released energy is recovered as pressurized superheated steam. The steam energy is recovered in a steam turbine in the form of electric power and steam of different pressures for process needs. Kraft pulping which produces black liquor is the dominant pulping method and is used herein to describe the invention. The invention may be applied in various types of chemical pulp mills and other processes. While the term "black liquor" commonly used in the context of kraft pulping, it is also used herein to refer to all types of spent liquors.
Traditionally, energy is produced in a pulp mill by combusting black liquor in a recovery boiler, and wood wastes and bark in an auxiliary boiler. The bark of the wood raw material and the organic substance of generated black liquor together normally fulfill the entire energy demand of the pulp mill. If more energy is needed in the pulp mill, additional fuel may be purchased. The additional fuel is combusted with the wood bark in an auxiliary boiler. For example, a lime kiln may be fired with oil or with natural gas. At the present time, the production of power often takes place as follows: (i) the recovery boiler and the auxiliary boiler, in which the bark generated in the mill is combusted, produce superheated high-pressure steam; (ii) The produced steam is fed to one or more back pressure steam turbines and the steam from the turbine discharge provides heat for the mill, and (iii) The turbine and the generator connected thereto produce the electricity needed by the mill. Electricity is usually produced by a back pressure turbine having one or more bleedings. The back pressure used is 3-6 bar (abs.) and the bleed pressure 8-16 bar (abs.). The production of electricity may also be effected by means of a condensing turbine or by a condensing stage in the steam turbine, following the back pressure stage.
Wood contains small amounts of potassium (K) and chlorine (Cl). These elements remain in the black liquor during cooking. They may enter black liquor also via make-up chemicals, or via internal connections inside the mill. In the recovery boiler, these elements are enriched into the fly ash and increase the corrosiveness of the flue gas especially in the superheater.
The corrosiveness of Cl and K increase with temperature. The corrosiveness of Cl and K impose an upper temperature limit on the steam generated in the recovery boiler. This limit for the superheated steam temperature is typically 400° C. to 490° C., depending on the content of chlorine and potassium. With special materials or with liquors having a very low Cl and K content, either naturally or via fly ash dumping or via Cl and K removal process, steam temperatures up to 520° C. have been used. Because the corrosiveness of Cl and K generally require the temperature of the superheated steam to be held relatively low, the steam pressure is also low. These temperature limitations result in low power yield from the heat generated in the recovery boiler, compared to normal power boilers fuelled by coal, natural gas or oil.
The temperature limitations of 400° C. to 490° C. and 520° C. on the steam in a recovery boiler are not as strictly valid with bark originating from logs, but the fly ash from bark combustion in a bark boiler may also contain chlorine and potassium. As the sulfur content of bark is very low, chlorine reacts in the bark boiler with metals, which in turn may result in superheater corrosion. Calorimetric flow in bark is also much lower than in the black ("waste") liquor flow, due to much smaller mass flow. This depends on pulp yield in pulping, and the amount of bark in the wood, from which the pulp is made.
WO 03/104547 and corresponding U.S. Published Application 2005/0252458 disclose a system for increasing the temperature and pressure of superheated steam produced at a recovery boiler plant of a pulp mill in such a way that no corrosion occurs or the rate of corrosion is at acceptable levels. WO 03/104547 and corresponding U.S. Published Application 2005/0252458 disclose a system in which the recovery boiler is provided with at least one cavity having walls formed of water-cooled tubes connected to the water/steam circulation system of the recovery boiler. The interior of the cavity is provided with a heat exchanger for final superheating of the steam generated in the recovery boiler, whereby the heat exchanger is connected to the superheaters of the boiler. The cavity is heated by burning fuel in such a manner that non-corrosive conditions in the superheater cavity are guaranteed. The fuel can be a gas produced by gasifying biomass. The basic feature of this system is that at least one combustion cavity is provided in connection with a recovery boiler for the final superheating of steam produced in the superheater section of the recovery boiler.

Apparatus and method for producing energy at a pulp mill


An injection molding machine having a machine frame, an injection assembly coupled with the frame, a press assembly also coupled with the frame, a mold-mounting assembly coupled with the press assembly, and a mold pallet assembly secured to the press assembly by the mold mounting-assembly. The mold pallet assembly includes first and second mold pallet units which define a mold cavity when they are placed in a closed condition. The mold pallet assembly further includes alignment members which ensure correct alignment between the first and second mold pallet units when in a closed condition. The first mold pallet unit includes an injection assembly for engagement with the injection assembly. The mold-mounting assembly includes first and second mold-mounting devices, securing the first and second mold pallet units, respectively, to the press assembly. The mold-mounting assembly further includes a sensor which indicates the correct alignment of the mold pallet assembly relative to the press assembly. The press assembly moves the first and second mold pallet units between a closed condition and an open condition in which they are separated from each other. Movement of the first mold pallet unit by the press assembly engages the unit with the injection assembly.

The operational components of a typical injection molding machine are designed to transform stock material into a batch of molded products. A "batch" is a predetermined number of essentially identical molded products which are manufactured during single or multiple production runs. The operational components of an injection molding machine usually include a stock supply assembly, an extruder assembly, an injection assembly, a press assembly and a mold pallet assembly.
In many industrial settings, it is desirable for a single injection molding machine to produce several different batches of molded products. During a typical multi-batch manufacturing shift, a first batch of molded products is created during a first production run. To begin this first production run, a first mold pallet assembly, which contains a "mold profile" reflecting the desired shape of the first batch of molded products, is installed into the machine and properly coordinated with the other assemblies of the machine.
At the completion of the production run, a second batch of molded products may be created. In a multibatch manufacturing shift, this second batch of molded products will possess properties different from those of the first batch of molded products. Consequently, in a batch-conversion it is necessary to remove the first mold pallet assembly and replace it with a second mold pallet assembly.

Injection molding machine including quick-change mold assembly


The door vent of the present invention includes an elongated tube mounted in a lower wall of the door of a horizontal axis washing machine, providing fluid communication between the interior chamber of the door and the interior of the tub, when the door is in a closed position. The tube projects upwardly within the door to form a standpipe, to prevent water from entering and becoming trapped within the door. A fine mesh screen is mounted in the vent to prevent suds from entering the door. A fan may be mounted to a compartment on the detergent receptacle on the washing machine housing, to draw air through the fluid dispensing system and out into the housing of the washing machine.

The present invention relates generally to horizontal axis washing machines, and more particularly to a vent for the door of such washing machines, to allow air circulation through the machine when not in use.
Horizontal axis washing machines need some form of venting to allow air circulation when the machine is not in use. If this air exchange is not allowed, the tub may develop odors.
The vent should be located so as to permit the transfer of high humidity air outside of the main enclosure of the machine.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved horizontal axis washing machine with a door vent to permit air circulation.
Another object is to provide a door vent for a washing machine which prevents water and suds from becoming entrapped within the door.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a door vent for a horizontal axis washing machine which is simple to install, economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Door vent for horizontal axis washing machines


A low coherence interferometry probe system for evaluating proximity to a tissue layer, comprising a low coherence light source, an excitation optical fiber to bring the low coherence excitation light near the tissue layer and a collection optical fiber for capturing back-scattered light from the tissue layer. The probe system comprises an interferometry sub-system and a processor for evaluating a distance to the tissue layer. There is also provided a spectral absorption probe system for evaluating proximity to an artery, comprising a light source excitation light having a wavelength adapted for absorption by blood chromophores, an excitation optical fiber and a collection optical fiber. The probe system comprises a light detector and a processor for determining a distance to the artery using the Beer-Lambert law of light absorption with a value for surrounding tissue attenuation coefficient (μeff). A probe system combining low coherence interferometry and spectral absorption is also provided.

Dental implants are a widely accepted treatment for the partially or completely edentulous patient. Dental implants are the fastest growing procedure in dentistry today. It is a 1 billion dollar industry in the USA. Dental implants offer a suitable alternative to mucosal adhering dentures and allow a more natural option for the patient. Implants have a high success rate when given proper care and when post-surgical instructions are followed. Dental implants can be in the form of a single tooth replacement, or can replace a series or an entire set of teeth. The basic implant procedure involves drilling a channel in the mandible where an artificial root is surgically inserted. A dental prosthesis is then placed onto the frame of the artificial root. Within a few months of recovery, the patient should have a fully integrated and functional prosthesis.
Implant procedures are not without complications. The goal of an implant procedure is to attain a successful level of osseointegration. Osseointegration is defined as the direct anchorage of an implant by the formation of bony tissue around the implant without the growth of fibrous tissue at the bone-implant interface. Implants surrounded with fibrous tissue show mobility when a load is applied. The successfully osseointegrated implant shows no mobility when loaded. Other major factors for the successful implant depend mainly on the type of jaw treated, the density of the bone, and the length of the implant. Implant length is the depth created by the surgeon upon drilling a channel in the mandible. Short implants have a length of less than 10 mm and are noted to have larger failure rates. Hence the need to create sufficient length for successful osseointegration of implants within the mandible is a priority.
However, the drilling of a large implant channel within the mandible carries a risk of breaching an intraosseous canal which encloses the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). Disruption of the IAN can lead to loss of sensation in the anterior mandible area, such as paresthesia or numbness to the lower lip, due to the disruption of the mental nerve, which is the terminal branch of the IAN and is the neural bundle serving this area. The loss of sensation for the patient is certainly undesirable.
The reported incidence of nerve injury from implant placement in the literature is highly variable and ranges depending on the study from 0% to as high as 44% (Misch and Resnik Implant Dentistry 2010; 19:378-386). A survey at the Misch international institute indicated that 73% of dentists have encountered neurosensory impairment within their practice. To help prevent nerve injury, patients can be subjected to CT scans which are costly and also involve radiation. The standard error for a CT scan is still in the range of 1.7 mm. This measurement error can result in nerve damage.
There is thus a need to develop a surgical drill which is able to detect the proximity and/or location of the IAN in the mandible, preferably during implant procedures. The sensor device should allow the drill to approach closely, but not impair or damage the IAN within an acceptable error limit of the intraosseous canal. Hence, a system that automatically terminates drill action when in close range of the IAN would be most desirable.

Method and system for optically evaluating proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve in situ


A method, a system and a computer readable medium for automatic segmentation of a 3D medical image, the 3D medical image comprising an object to be segmented, the method characterized by comprising: carrying out, by using a machine learning model, in at least two of a first, a second and a third orthogonal orientation, 2D segmentations for the object in slices of the 3D medical image to derive 2D segmentation data; determining a location of a bounding box (10) within the 3D medical image based on the 2D segmentation data, the bounding box (10) having predetermined dimensions; and carrying out a 3D segmentation for the object in the part of the 3D medical image corresponding to the bounding box (10).

Segmentation of anatomical structures, e.g. organs in 3D medical images is a fundamental task in a number of clinical processes in the field of oncology, radiology and in planning surgical interventions. A 3D medical image is a medical image of a 3D volume in a subject along an orientation such as axial, coronal, sagittal, or oblique, where the medical images may be acquired by a 2D acquisition, a 3D acquisition, or a combination thereof. These 3D medical images can be considered as a set of 2D slices or layers in each of the 3D directions, i.e. a set of 2D axial, coronal or sagittal slices or more generally, a set of 2D slices in any of a first, a second and a third orthogonal orientation. In the present context, the term 'first, second and third orthogonal orientations' comprises all possible sets of three-dimensional orientations. Exemplary techniques for imaging include conventional ultrasound imaging, computed tomography ("CT") imaging, magnetic resonance imaging ("MR" or "MRI"), and nuclear medicine imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography ("PET") and single photon emission computed tomography ("SPECT"). Segmentation is used to measure the size and shape of anatomical structures, to guide spatial normalization of anatomy between individuals and to plan medical interventions. The spectrum of available segmentation approaches is broad, ranging from manual outlining of structures in 2D cross-sections to more developed methods that use a so called 'registration' to find optimal correspondences between 3D images and a labeled probability map or atlas. There are also known semiautomatic approaches that combine the efficiency and repeatability of automatic segmentation with the human judgment that can only come from skilled expertise.
Despite the fact that a large number of fully automatic and semiautomatic segmentation methods have been disclosed, still manual delineation is generally used as the technique of choice for image segmentation. Reluctance to use the fully automatic approach is due to the concerns about its insufficient reliability in cases where the target anatomy may difference from the norm, as well as due to high computational demands of the approach based on image registration.
Manually tracing the outlines on a contiguous set of 2D slices and then combining them can be time consuming and labor intensive. Time and labor increase significantly both as the number of image slices increase, and as a number and size of an organ, tumor, etc. in an anatomical area of interest increases. Quality of the outlining and quality of a produced 3D object depend on a resolution and contrast of the 2D slices, and on knowledge and judgment of the clinician performing the reconstruction.
Using reliable automatic image segmentation could save time and labor, and could increase precision by eliminating subjectivity of the clinician.
Automated image segmentation of organs faces certain challenges. Some organs are located in a soft tissue environment wherein resolution against surrounding structures has poor contrast since neighboring organs have similar density values. Furthermore, shape and position of organs may change periodically. Imaging parameters of imaging machines vary as well.
Segmentation is the process of assigning labels to individual voxels in the data set of the 3D medical image. Automatic segmentation thereby means automated recognition and labeling of human anatomical structures in 2D or 3D digital scans of the human body.
For example, magnetic resonance imaging ("MR") is widely used for analyzing brain structures due to its high contrast for soft tissues, proper spatial resolution and to its non-invasive character. MRI brain analysis can be used for assessment of brain disorder such as Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases causing tissue atrophy (see e.g.: FOX, Nick C.; FREEBOROUGH, Peter A. Brain atrophy progression measured from registered serial MM: validation and application to Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 1997, 7.6: 1069-1075.). For quantifying atrophies, proper segmentation and measurements of brain tissues are needed, as precise detection and localization of the damaged structures are important for diagnosis and therapy planning (see e.g.: AKKUS, Zeynettin, et al. Deep learning for brain MRI segmentation: state of the art and future directions. Journal of digital imaging, 2017, 30.4: 449-459.). Another clinical application of MR image segmentation is radiation therapy planning (RTP) that requires precise contouring of the organs at risk surrounding the tumor to be irradiated.
As mentioned above, at this moment manual contouring is the gold standard for organ segmentation, which requires contouring various structures slice by slice, which is a time consuming, expensive activity and can be inaccurate due to human errors. The need for precise segmentation tools is unquestionable. Deep learning methods can bridge the limitations of traditional machine learning tools which are weaker at generalizing, so the use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is frequently proposed in medical image analysis (see e.g.: DOLZ, Jose; DESROSIERS, Christian; APED, Ismail Ben. 3D fully convolutional networks for subcortical segmentation in MRI: A large-scale study. NeuroImage, 2018, 170: 456-470.).
There is a special need to segment various organs or particular anatomical structures or parts—generally called as objects—inside the brain which are relevant for assessment of Alzheimer's disease (Amygdala, Caudate, Hippocampus, Putamen, Thalamus). Volumes of putamen and thalamus were significantly reduced in patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease, and other changes are also visible on the organs of basal ganglia (see e.g.: DE JONG, Laura W., et al. Strongly reduced volumes of putamen and thalamus in Alzheimer's disease: an MRI study. Brain, 2008, 131.12: 3277-3285.). The damage initially appears to take place in the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex, parts of the brain essential in forming memories. As more neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected and begin to shrink. Alzheimer's disease gradually leads to nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting nearly all its functions. With detecting changes in the proper brain parts in the earlier stage of the Alzheimer's disease the medical treatment can be started and symptoms of the disease (such as decreased anamnesis, awareness and cognitive abilities) can be softened and slowed down.
The difficulties in segmenting smaller organs inside the brain is the image resolution and the low contrast between neighboring tissues, so one can mainly trust on relative localization based on larger, better separable organs; for example, the ventricle is relevant as the examined organs of the basal ganglia are located next to it. There exists a special need to accurately segment these organs.
There are prior art solutions for segmenting organs like above, which propose to increase accuracy and reliability by means of two-step or multi-step processes.
In Vanya V. Valindria, et al.: Small Organ Segmentation in Whole-body MRI using a Two-stage FCN and Weighting Schemes (MICCAI Workshop on Machine Learning in Medical Imaging (MLMI) 2018, arXiv:1807.11368v1 [cs.CV] 30 Jul. 2018) a two-stage approach is disclosed, according to which a coarse-scale segmentation is trained to a CNN to deal with the multi-organ segmentation, and then a fine-scale segmentation focuses only to a 3D bounding box, corresponding to a cropped region of interest (ROI) of the specific organ, selected in the coarse segmentation. The fine-scale segmentation is carried out by a separate CNN trained for that specific fine-scale stage. The drawback of this solution is that both of the two stages are carried out in 3D, resulting in a high computational demand; the coarse-scale segmentation, which is only a preliminary or preparational stage of the effective segmentation stage necessitates considerable computer resources due to its 3D character.
A three-step localization/segmentation process is disclosed in Haibin Chen, et al.: A Recursive Ensemble Organ Segmentation (REOS)/Framework: Application in Brain Radiotherapy (Phys Med Biol. 2019 Jan. 11; 64(2):025015. doi: 10.1088/1361-6560/aaf83c.). This method has the same drawbacks as mentioned above.
These known methods do not solve the problems of resource-efficient and reliable automatic segmentation, especially for segmentation of brain MR images, where the above mentioned difficulties arise.
Thus, there is a need for a solution allowing an improvement over existing methods and systems. There is a need for automatic segmentation method, computer program and system eliminating as much as possible the shortcomings of known techniques. There is a particular need for an automatic segmentation method allowing an efficient and reliable localization of the region of interest with relatively low computational needs, and a subsequent fine 3D segmentation.

Method, system and computer readable medium for automatic segmentation of a 3D medical image


A filter element includes a laminate including insulator layers. A ring conductor pattern is provided on one of the insulator layers. Linear conductor patterns of a first inductor having a helical shape with an axial direction thereof being a laminating direction of the laminate and linear conductor patterns of a second inductor having a helical shape with an axial direction thereof being the laminating direction are provided on predetermined ones of the insulator layers. The ring conductor pattern is arranged such that inner regions of the linear conductor patterns of the first inductor and inner regions of the linear conductor patterns of the second inductor are included in an inner region of the ring conductor pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filter element including an inductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, various filter elements are used as high-frequency components for use in communication modules. One of those filter elements is an LC filter element including an inductor and a capacitor.
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-97963, for example, the above-mentioned type of filter element is configured using a laminate in which an inductor and a capacitor are defined by internal conductors.
The LC filter element disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-97963 includes two parallel resonators each including an inductor and a capacitor. Respective inductors of the parallel resonators are magnetically coupled with each other through a mutual inductance. A desired filter characteristic is achieved by utilizing the magnetic coupling.
To obtain the above-mentioned magnetic coupling, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-97963, linear conductor patterns for the respective inductors of the parallel resonators are formed in different layers of the laminate. Furthermore, the linear conductor patterns for the inductors are arranged in an overlapping relationship when viewed in the laminating direction of the laminate, while an insulator layer having a properly adjusted thickness and arranged to adjust the mutual inductance is interposed between the linear conductor patterns.
However, with the arrangement disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-97963, because the desired magnetic coupling is obtained by changing the thickness of the insulator layer for the adjustment of the mutual inductance, an achievable range of the magnetic coupling (i.e., an available range of the mutual inductance) is restricted by dimensional limitations of the laminate. This causes a problem, for example, in that the desired filter characteristic may not be obtained depending on the dimensions of the laminate. Moreover, a degree of flexibility in design of the filter characteristic is reduced.


An in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display device (100) includes pixel units each having a storage capacitor. The storage capacitor is formed by a common electrode (112), a drain electrode (103), and a counter electrode (110). The common electrode is electrically coupled with the counter electrode. The counter electrode substantially covers the drain electrode, for shielding unexpected coupling effects on the drain electrode due to data signals on a data line (101) driving other pixels of the liquid crystal display device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a liquid crystal display device utilizing in-plane switching mode, and more particularly to such a liquid crystal display device having a storage capacitor.
2. Related Art
Liquid crystal displays have been burdened by limited viewing angles for many years. Many researchers in the art have invested huge amounts of time and effort in trying to find possible solutions for this shortcoming. One solution was developed by Masahito Ohe et al., and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,464. This is the so-called liquid crystal display device with in-plane switching (IPS) mode.
In order for an IPS mode liquid crystal display device to have a higher aperture ratio, Seo et al. developed an "In-Plane Switching Mode Liquid Crystal Display Device Having a High Aperture Ratio," which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,628,362 (the '362 patent). In particular, a storage capacitor having a reduced effective area for enlarging the aperture ratio is disclosed. Referring to FIG. 2B of the '362 patent, a circular mark 125 represents a group of electrodes, which are overlapped to form two storage capacitors. As shown, one storage capacitor is formed by a common electrode 109 and a data electrode 108, while the other storage capacitor is formed by the data electrode 108 and a gate electrode 101. However, due to the existence of unexpected coupling effects, such as a capacitive coupling effect, in a liquid crystal display device, especially in an IPS mode liquid crystal display device, the voltage of a pixel electrode is affected by data signals carried on a data signal line driving other pixels. This significantly reduces the quality of images displayed on the liquid crystal display device.

In-plane switching liquid crystal display device having storage capacitors


Sharing a kernel of an operating system among logical partitions, including installing in a partition manager a kernel of a type used by a plurality of logical partitions; installing in the partition manager generic data structures specifying computer resources assigned to each of the plurality of logical partitions; and providing, by the kernel to the logical partitions, kernel services in dependence upon the generic data structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, systems, and products for sharing a kernel of an operating system among logical partitions.
2. Description of Related Art
A thread is a unit of software execution on a multi-threaded computer. That is, a thread is an executable entity of work in a computer system. A thread can be viewed of as a separate stream of executable computer program instructions. On such a computer, software programs are executed in units of execution called 'processes' that include all the processor registers, code segment and offset registers, data segment and offset registers, stack segment and offset registers, flag registers, instruction pointer registers, program counters, and so on, needed for execution of software programs. For efficiency, 'processes' are organized further as threads, where each thread of a process individually possesses all the attributes needed for execution except that a thread shares memory among all the other threads of a process, thereby reducing the overhead of operating system switches from thread to thread ('context switches').
Two modes of multi-threading are discussed in this specification: simultaneous multi-threading ('SMT') and single-threaded ('ST') multi-threading. ST multi-threading is time-multiplexed multi-threading, that is, multi-threading by use of time slices or time quanta. In ST mode, both individual threads and virtual processors are assigned to a portion of a processor's computing capacity apportioned in segments of time, each of which is referred to as a 'time slice' or 'time quantum.'
Some processors accept computer program instructions from more than one thread simultaneously, a feature referred to as 'simultaneous multi-threading' or 'SMT.' The idea behind SMT is to share the processor hardware on a chip among multiple threads of a multi-threaded workload. SMT is a technique that lets multiple independent threads issue instructions to a single physical processor in a single processing cycle. Traditional processor architectures issue instructions to a processor from only one thread at a time. An example of a processor that implements SMT as described here is IBM's Power5™ processor.
SMT is implemented on physical processors each of which is capable of accepting instructions from more than one thread of execution simultaneously. Also in SMT mode, both virtual processors and threads running on virtual processors may be apportioned through time slices. A thread of execution on a virtual processor in SMT mode may be viewed as running on a logical processor. A virtual processor running on a physical processor in SMT mode therefore may be viewed as supporting more than one logical processor. Whether a thread runs in ST mode or in SMT mode, a thread running on a logical processor is unaware of the logical or virtual nature of the processor and views it as a traditional processor.
Multiprocessing is implemented in computers that support multiple logical partitions in ST mode or SMT mode partition-by-partition. Each partition traditionally implements an entire separate operating system including a separate kernel. Even a single instance or image of a kernel consumes memory resources, and each additional copy of such an image consumes a multiple of memory resources. When the number of partitions and therefore the number of kernel images is large, memory consumption can become a limiting factor in system administration.

International Business Machines Corporation


A fixing device includes a feed member for performing a fixing operation by grasping and feeding a supporting material supporting an undeveloped toner image. The feed member is made of a conductive base material and a surface release layer provided thereon, the surface release layer containing a conductive material. A biasing voltage is applied to the conductive base material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fixing device for performing a fixing operation wherein feed members, such as rollers, belts and the like, grasp and feed a supporting material on which an unfixed toner image has been deposited.
2. Description of the Related Art
After forming a toner image on a recording material, such as paper or the like, by a method such as the Carlson process in electrophotographic apparatus, the toner image must be fixed as a permanent image. Various methods have been proposed as fixing methods for use in electrophotographic and other image forming apparatus. Recently, from the viewpoint of thermal efficiency and economy, heat-roller fixing devices are frequently used in which a toner image is fused and fixed by grasping and feeding a recording material with a pair of rollers, a fixing roller and a pressing roller, at least one of which has a heating source.
FIG. 5 shows a heat-roller fixing device which comprises a fixing roller 1 having a heating source 8, such as a halogen lamp or the like, and a pressing roller 7 having an elastic layer made of silicone rubber or the like. The pressing roller 7 is in pressure contact with the fixing roller 1. As described above, while the two rollers rotate and a recording material P, such as paper or the like, passes between the rollers, a toner image T fuses by heat and pressure, and cools after leaving the pair of rollers to form a fixed image.
There is also shown a frame 10 for the fixing device.
In such a fixing device, the phenomenon of offset easily occurs because sticking materials, such as fused toner and the like, adhere to the fixing roller when the surface of the fixing roller directly contacts the toner image. When offset occurs, the toner adhering to the fixing roller as a result of offset is fed on the roller, and adheres again to the recording material P, causing contamination of the image. Hence, it is necessary to prevent the offset phenomenon in such a fixing device.
As one method for reducing or preventing the offset phenomenon, there is a method in which potential on the surface of the fixing roller is controlled. In this method, the mechanism of the occurrence of offset is investigated, and from the viewpoint that offset occurs due to an electrostatic force at the fixing portion, the electrostatic force is controlled. Offset is a phenomenon which occurs due to the transfer of toner from the recording material P to the fixing roller 1. The forces causing the transfer and to be considered are electrostatic forces on the toner in the direction of the fixing roller and adhesion force due to the tackiness of the toner. That is, in a conventional hot-roller fixing device as shown in FIG. 5, in general, the fixing roller 1 is negatively charged at ten volts to several hundreds volts, the pressing roller is charged at a higher potential of several hundred volts to several tens of thousands of volts, and the recording material P has positive electric charges. As a result of the above-described potential relationship, an electrostatic force is exerted between the toner and the fixing roller.
For example, when fixing positively-charged toner, if the triboelectrification potential between the fixing roller and the recording material is high and the surface potential of the pressing roller is low, a strong electrostatic attractive force is exerted between the fixing roller and the toner, and the toner adheres to the fixing roller.
When fixing negatively-charged toner, if the potential of the fixing roller is low and the negative potential of the pressing roller is high, a strong electrostatic repulsive force is exerted between the pressing roller and the toner, and the toner adheres to the fixing roller.
Methods for preventing or effectively utilizing the above-described electrostatic forces have been considered.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 55,374/1980, a method has been disclosed in which, by disposing corona discharge units facing outer circumferential surface of rollers, or by making contact biasing rollers, charge-removing cloths or the like with outer circumferential surfaces of rollers, electric charges on either a fixing roller or a pressing roller are removed to reduce offset.
However, if the potential of a roller is controlled from the outer circumferential surface of the roller, the potential is apt to be influenced by changes in environment. In addition, the configuration of the device becomes large.
In consideration of the above-described disadvantages, in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (Kokai) Publication No. 55-96970 (1980), a biasing voltage is applied to a core bar of a roller to prevent offset.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 446,426, filed Dec. 5, 1989, and assigned to the assignee of this application, the core bar is grounded via a diode.
Although the above-described application of a biasing voltage to the core bar is effective for the prevention of offset in some cases, offset has not been sufficiently prevented in cases where the triboelectrification potential of the surface of the roller is high.
For example, in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (Kokai) Publication Nos. 54-2137 (1979), 57-150869 (1982) and 58-209769 (1983), there are descriptions of reducing resistance values of fixing and pressing rollers to reduce triboelectrification of the rollers.
These approaches are, however, for reducing electrostatic influences, and there has been no description about the prevention of offset utilizing an electrostatic force.
If the surface of the above-described roller having a low resistance value is microscopically observed, resin or rubber and conductive powder are merely mixed. Hence, the above-described approaches still have the problem that toner particles contacting resin portions receive electrostatic attractive forces, causing offset.

Fixing apparatus with biasing means to prevent offset


Serving to secure the securing flange (4) lying against an angled support surface (5) of the housing wall (1) and correspondingly angled is a clamp device (6). The clamp device has a bow-like spring element which is supported with the bow ends on the housing wall (1) and is capable of snapping in between the securing flange (4) of the assembly bracket (3) and a catch element (7) provided on the housing wall (1).

The invention relates to a securing device.
Standard flat components, in particular the plug-in cards used in computer technology, are usually mounted with the aid of assembly brackets at appropriately designed mounting locations. Secured to these assembly brackets there is in each case at least one plug-in connector, which establishes the connection of the plug-in card to external terminals. The housing wall therefore has at the mounting locations in each case slot-like clearances, which are covered by the respective assembly bracket. Also provided on the assembly bracket is a securing flange, which is attached at right angles, lies snugly against a correspondingly angled support surface of the housing wall and is releasably fixed there by means of a screw or clamp connection.
By way of example, German reference DE 44 03 907 A1 discloses a securing device in the form of a clamping strip which reaches over all the insertable flat components or their assembly brackets and, in the fitted state, fixes all the plug-in cards and, in the releasing state, releases all the plug-in cards, and which has flexible regions which are assigned to the individual plug-in cards. A disadvantage in this case is that, irrespective of the number of mounting locations occupied, a clamping strip wide enough to cover all the mounting locations is always required and that, when retrofitting or exchanging, the securement has to be temporarily loosened for all the other, in fact unconcerned, flat components.

Securing device for assembly bracket of plug-in cards and standard flat components

Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme Aktiengesellschaft


A membrane (2) for an electroacoustic transducer (1) is disclosed, wherein a thickness (d) of said membrane (2) and an average Young's modulus (Eavg) of said membrane (2) are chosen in such a way that the critical load (Fbc), which causes the membrane (2) to buckle and/or crinkle, is increased compared to a reference membrane. The reference membrane made of Polycarbonate has the same shape, dimension, and stiffness in its direction of movement (MOV) as said membrane (2). According to the result of investigations on buckling and/or crinkling, said effect occurs with different critical buckling/crinkling loads for membranes of the same shape and dimension, but made of different materials, even when the stiffness of the membranes in their direction of movement—and hence their resonant frequency—is identical.

The ever increasing requirements on electroacoustic transducers, meaning increased sound pressure and sound quality at a decreased size of said transducers, lead to certain problems, wherein the membrane, which is a very important part, represents one of them. For good sound reproduction, on the one hand, a low resonant frequency of the membrane should be obtained, which means that thin membranes made of soft materials should be chosen. High sound pressures, on the other hand, demand relatively thick and stiff membranes. So there are opposite basic requirements for a membrane, which are to be balanced and which define a limit to what is technically possible. Nowadays transducers using membranes made of common materials such as Polycarbonate (PC), Polyetherimide (PEI), Polyethylenterephthalate (PET), or Polyethylennaphtalate (PEN), have reached this borderline, which is to be broken through.
To explain the aforesaid problems in more detail, reference is now made to FIG. 1, which shows a simplified cross section of a speaker 1. The speaker 1 comprises a membrane 2, a coil 3 attached to said membrane 2, a magnetic system 4 interacting with the coil 3, and a housing 5, which keeps the aforesaid parts together. The membrane 2 has a certain thickness d and together with housing 5 forms a back volume Vb. Membrane 2 normally also comprises corrugations, which enable its movement, which corrugations are left in this and further drawings for the sake of brevity.
FIG. 2 now shows the movement of the membrane 2. Membrane 2 may move in the direction of movement MOV. Thin lines indicate its lower dead center and its upper dead center. The distance of movement s of the membrane 2 is measured in direction of movement MOV, wherein a positive distance of movement s indicates an upward movement, a negative one a downward movement.
FIG. 3 shows differential operating loads dFo acting on the membrane 2. The coil 3, which is not shown, forces the membrane 2 to move up and down. Integration of all differential operating loads dFo results in an overall operating load Fo, which is to be produced by the magnetic force between coil 3 and magnetic system 4. Loads F directed upwards are positive, those directed downwards are negative.
FIG. 4 shows a differential part 2dp of membrane 2 (see also dotted circle in FIG. 3). As it has a differential mass dm, an acceleration—a downwards causes a differential accelerating force dFa to go up:dFa=a·dm=ω2·smax·dm=2·π·f2·smax·dm
wherein ω is angular velocity and f is the frequency of the membrane 2 and wherein smax is the maximum amplitude of the membrane 2. At the same time a differential pressure force dFp is acting on the differential part 2dp, since it is assumed that the membrane 2 is below its idle position in FIG. 4. Thus the back volume Vb is compressed, causing a positive pressure force dFp acting perpendicularly on the membrane 2 according to the adiabatic gas equationp·Vκ=const
wherein p is a pressure, V is a volume and K is the adiabatic coefficient (for air under standard conditions κ=1.402). Hence an increase of the volume V leads to a decrease of the pressure p and vice versa. Therefore, the pressure p in the back volume Vb decreases when the membrane 2 moves upwards. The differential pressure force dFp may now be calculated as follows
      ⅆ          F      p        =            p      ·              ⅆ                                          A              =                  p        0            ·                        (                                    Vb              0                        Vb                    )                κ            ·              ⅆ                                          A
wherein dA is a differential area of the differential part 2dp, Vb0 and p0 are the back volume of the transducer 1 and the pressure therein at the membrane's idle position.
Both, the differential accelerating force dFa and the differential pressure force dFp form the differential operating load dFo. The latter one causes the membrane 2 to be bent. The elasticity of the membrane, defined by the Young's modulus E of the membrane 2, transversal to its extension of thickness d, acts against this bending (see also Eavg in FIG. 7 for the definition of said direction). Hence a certain operating load Fo leads to a certain movement of the membrane 2.
FIG. 5 now shows the distance of movement s of the membrane 2 as well as the differential loads dF acting on the membrane 2 over time. It is assumed that a sinusoidal current flows through the coil 3. Hence the membrane 2 moves sinusoidally as well, visualized by the graph for the distance of movement s (solid thin line). The differential accelerating force dFa (dash-and-dot line) is sinusoidal as well, as it is directed opposite to the acceleration a, which is the second derivation of the distance of movement s. In contrast to that is the differential pressure force dFp (dashed line), which is at its negative maximum in the upper dead center of the membrane 2. Both the differential accelerating force dFa and the differential pressure force dFp forms the differential operating load dFo (solid bold line) as stated before. Since membranes in general are relatively lightweight and sound pressure is relatively high (meaning that the amplitude of the membrane's movement is also high), the differential pressure force dFp is higher than the differential accelerating force dFa. Since both are in phase, the differential operating load dFo shows an in-phase negative sinusoidal graph. The same applies to overall loads, meaning that the differential loads may be integrated over the whole membrane 2 or at least over part of said membrane 2.
FIG. 6 now shows the membrane 2 in its idle position as well as in its upper dead center (thin dashed line). As long as the operating load Fo is below a so-called critical buckling/crinkling load Fbc, the dome of the membrane 2, which is the part of the membrane 2 inside the coil 3, substantially keeps its shape. At the least it is bent outwards. When the operating load Fo exceeds the critical buckling/crinkling load Fbc, the dome of the membrane 2 snaps inwards due to the so-called buckling and/or crinkling effect (thin solid line).
The same applies to the border area of the membrane 2 outside the coil 3 as well. Normally it is bent outwards, but at a certain load it may snap inwards. This effect is quite complex and highly depends on the shape of the membrane 2. A higher dome for instance would buckle much later than a flat one. Corrugations too, which are normally part of a membrane but which were left out for the sake of brevity here, highly influence this buckling and/or crinkling. Thus this effect may also be limited to a relatively small area of the membrane 2, for example if there are sharp edges or intersections, which essentially influence the mechanical behavior of the membrane 2. Because of the complexity of the buckling/crinkling effect, it is only possible to calculate where and when buckling/crinkling occurs by the use of computer simulation using the finite elements method.
In any case the aforesaid buckling and/or crinkling is an unwanted effect because it dramatically draws down the acoustic quality of a transducer as can easily be imagined. Membrane 2 is to compress the air in front of the transducer in its upper position, whereas it more or less decompresses the air, when the membrane 2 buckles. So the sound wave does not show a sinusoidal graph anymore, although the current in the coil 3 does. This is unacceptable for present-day requirements.
To explain the balancing problem of sound quality and sound pressure, which was briefly mentioned in the first paragraph of the "background of the invention" in more detail, reference is now made to basic formulas for the resonant frequency and for the stiffness of a membrane (meaning its resistance against movement in direction of movement or its spring constant):fres=k1·d·√{square root over (E)}
According to the first formula the resonant frequency fres of a membrane depends on a first form factor k1, the thickness d of the membrane and the Young's modulus E of the membrane. Since there is a tendency to decrease the resonant frequency fres, so as to increase the acoustic performance of a transducer, there is also a tendency to reduce the thickness d of the membranes. This leads to a drawback as the stiffness S of a membrane in its direction of movement is proportional to the square of the resonant frequency.S∝fres2=k12·d2·E
It can easily be seen that a reduction of the thickness d and thus a reduction of resonant frequency fres results in a decrease of the stiffness S. A lower stiffness S in turn results in a decreased maximum possible sound pressure and an increased tendency for buckling/crinkling, which is undesired. So one could try to increase the Young's modulus E accordingly. But reaching the same stiffness S (and according to former investigations hence also the same tendency for buckling/crinkling) means also reaching the same resonant frequency fres again, which results in a degraded sound quality. The same applies to one who would decrease Young's modulus E and increase thickness d.
To illustrate this fact, a simple example is given. To improve sound quality an engineer reduces the thickness s of the membrane by half. Accordingly, the resonant frequency fres is also halved. Looking at the stiffness S he realizes that stiffness S is only one fourth. Hence he chooses a material having a Young's modulus E four times higher to keep the same stiffness S, but evaluating the formula for the resonant frequency fres again, he realizes that the resonant frequency fres which was halved originally is doubled and hence the same as at the start.
According to the aforesaid formulas there is no material to be expected which would lead to a breakthrough, meaning increasing sound quality (by reducing resonant frequency fres) and increasing sound pressure (by increasing stiffness S) at the same time, even when a harder material is chosen. Therefore, known materials simply have been kept, so that normally Polycarbonate (PC), Polyetherimide (PEI), Polyethylentrephthalate (PET), or Polyethylennaphtalate (PEN) have been used for membranes for example.
These materials define a technical borderline, because they only allow certain combinations of sound quality and sound pressure. Beyond this borderline buckling and/or crinkling occurs, meaning that the operating load Fo exceeds the critical buckling/crinkling load Fbc. To develop improved transducers this borderline is to be crossed.

Membrane with a high resistance against buckling and/or crinkling


In the present invention, the bonding pad is formed in a lattice-like shape. Directly underneath the passivation layer, the etching stopper layer is provided. An opening is made through the passivation layer and the etching stopper layer so as to expose the bonding pad. The cavity sections of the lattice-like shape of the bonding pad are filled with the insulating layer. The bonding wire is connected to the lattice-shaped bonding pad. With this structure, the bonding error of the device manufactured by the damascening process can be avoided.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a multi-layer wiring structure made by a damascening process or a dual damascening process, and a method of manufacturing such a device.
An ultra-large scale integrated circuit (ULSI) employs a multilayer wiring structure in which wiring layers of three levels or more are formed.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a semiconductor device prepared by a conventional wiring process. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IIxe2x80x94II indicated in FIG. 1.
As can be seen in the figure, a field oxide layer 12 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 11. In an element region surrounded by the field oxide layer 12, a MOS transistor having a source-drain region 13 and a gate electrode 14, is formed.
On the semiconductor substrate 11, an insulating layer 15 is formed so as to completely cover the MOS transistor. A contact hole 16 is made in the insulating layer 15 from its surface to be through to the source-drain region 13. On the insulating layer 15, a first-level wiring layer having a plurality of wiring layers 17 is formed. Each of the plurality of wiring layers 17 is connected to the source-drain region 13 of the MOS transistor via the contact hole 16.
On the insulating layer 15, an insulating layer (interlayer dielectric) 18 is formed so as to completely cover the plurality of wiring layers 17. A contact hole 19 is made in the insulating layer 18 from its surface to be through to the plurality of wirings 17. On the insulating layer (interlayer dielectric) 18, a second-level wiring layer having a plurality of wiring layers 20 is formed. Each of the plurality of wiring layers 20 is connected to the wiring layers 17 of the first-level wiring layers via the contact hole 19.
On the insulating layer (interlayer dielectric) 18, a bonding pad 21 is formed. Further, on the insulating layer (interlayer dielectric) 18, an insulating layer (passivation dielectric) 22 is formed so as to completely cover the plurality of wiring layers 20 and the bonding pad 21. An opening 23 is made in the insulating film (passivation dielectric) 22 so as to expose the bonding pad 21.
In a semiconductor device manufactured by the conventional wiring process, a plurality of wirings 17 of the first-level wiring layer, a plurality of wirings 20 of the second-level wiring layer and the bonding pad 21 are formed by a photo engraving process (PEP), in which, a resist pattern is formed, and using the resist pattern as a mask, metal layers are etched by an anisotropic etching (such as RIE).
However, in an ULSI, the distance between wirings of the same level is becoming very narrow.
Therefore, the following drawbacks begin to arise.
First, it is very difficult to accurately pattern the wirings 17 and 20 of the wiring layers. This is because the resolution of the exposing device for forming resist patterns, cannot follow up wiring patterns which are becoming finer as the technology develops.
Second, it is very difficult to fill grooves resulting between wirings of the same level, with insulating layer, and therefore cavities are inevitably created between the wirings. This is because of a poor step coverage of the insulating layer. Such cavities adversely affect the multilayer wiring technique.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a semiconductor device manufactured by a dual damascening process. FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IVxe2x80x94IV indicated in FIG. 3.
As can be seen in the figure, a field oxide layer 12 is. formed on a semiconductor substrate 11. In an element region surrounded by the field oxide layer 12, a MOS transistor having a source-drain region 13 and a gate electrode 14, is formed.
On the semiconductor substrate 11, insulating layers 15 and 24 are formed so as to completely cover the MOS transistor. A contact hole 16 is made in the insulating layers 15 and 24 from its surface to be through to the source-drain region 13.
The insulating layer 25 is formed on the insulating layer 24. In the insulating layer 25, a plurality of grooves 16b used for forming a first-level wiring layer, is formed. Bottom sections of the plurality of grooves 16b are made through to the contact hole 16a.
A barrier metal 17a is formed on an inner surface of each of the contact hole 16a and the grooves 16. Further, on each of the barrier metals 17a, a metal (or metal alloy) portion 17b is formed so as to completely fill each of the contact hole 16a and the grooves 16b. The plurality of wirings which make the first level wiring layer, consist of the barrier metals 17a and the metal portions 17b.
The surface of the insulating layer 25 meets with that of the first-level wiring layer, and the surface is made flat. Each of the plurality of wirings which give rise to the first-level wiring layer, is connected to the source-drain region 13 of the MOS transistor.
On the insulating layer 25 and the first level wiring layer, the insulating layer (interlayer dielectric) 18 and the insulating layer 26 are formed. A contact hole 19a is formed in the insulating layers 18 and 26 from its surface to be through to the first-level wiring layer.
An insulating layer 27 is formed on the insulating film 26. A plurality of grooves 19b used for forming the second-level wiring layer, are formed in the insulating layer 27. Bottom sections of the plurality of grooves 19b are made through to the contact hole 19a.
A barrier metal 20a is formed on an inner surface of each of the contact hole 19a and the grooves 19b. Further, on each of the barrier metals 20a, a metal (or metal alloy) portion 20b is formed so as to completely fill each of the contact hole 19a and the grooves 19b. The plurality of wirings which make the second level wiring layer, consist of the barrier metals 20a and the metal portions 20b.
The surface of the insulating layer 27 meets with that of the second-level wiring layer, and the surface is made flat. Each of the plurality of wirings which give rise to the second-level wiring layer, is connected to the first-level wiring layer.
In the case where the second-level wiring layer is located as the uppermost layer, a part of the second-level wiring layer constitutes a bonding pad 21. The bonding pad 21 is made of a metal (or metal alloy), as in the case of the second-level wiring layer.
An insulating layer (passivation dielectric) 22 is formed on the insulation layer 27, the second-level wiring layer and the bonding pad 21. An opening 23 is made in the insulating layer 22 so as to expose the bonding pad 21.
Regarding the semiconductor device manufactured by the dual damascening process as described above, it is able to solve the drawbacks of the conventional wiring process, that is, the wiring pattern becoming out of focus when exposing, and the cavities resulting between wirings.
However, in the dual damascening process or damascening process, the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technique is employed. In the case where a bonding pad 21 is formed by the CMP technique, the central portion of the bonding pad 21 is excessively etched, resulting in dishing, that is, the bonding pad 21 is made into a dish-like shape.
FIG. 5 illustrates how dishing occurs.
More specifically, the CMP not only mechanically etch the metal layer 21xe2x80x2, but also chemically etch it. Therefore, in the case where the metal layer 21 (bonding pad) remains in a groove 19b which has a width sufficiently large as compared to its depth (note that the size of a bonding pad is usually about 100 xcexcmxc3x97100 xcexcm), the central portion of the metal layer 21 in the groove 19b is excessively etched mainly by chemical etching.
Such dishing easily causes a bonding error, that is, a wire cannot be bonded to the bonding pad 21 accurately during a wiring bonding operation, which results in the deterioration of the production yield.
The present invention has been proposed as a solution to the above-described drawback of the conventional technique, and the object thereof is as follows. That is, regarding the semiconductor device manufactured by the dual damascening process or damascening process, the bonding pad is formed to have a lattice shape, and the deformation of the lattice-shaped bonding pad is prevented so as to suppress bonding error, thereby improving the reliability and yield of the product.
In order to achieve the above-described object, there is provided, according to the present invention, a semiconductor device including: a bonding pad constituted by a conductive member filled in grooves made in an insulating layer having a flat surface; an etching stopper layer formed on the insulating layer and having an opening to expose the bonding pad; and a passivation layer formed on the etching stopper layer and having an opening to expose the bonding pad.
The grooves of the insulating layer are arranged in a lattice-like shape and the bonding pad has a lattice-like shape. The insulating layer and the passivation layer are made of silicon oxide, and the etching stopper layer is made of silicon nitride.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, in which a bonding pad is formed by making grooves in an insulating layer having a flat surface and filling the grooves with a conductive material, the method including the stops of: forming an etching stopper layer on the insulating layer and the bonding pad, the etching stopper layer being made of a material which can be etched selectively with respect to at least a material which is used to form the insulating layer; forming a passivation layer on the etching stopper layer, the passivation layer being made of a material which can be etched selectively with respect to at least the material used to form the etching stopper layer; removing only a portion of the passivation layer, which is situated above the bonding pad; and removing only a portion of the etching stopper layer, which is situated above the bonding pad.
The bonding pad is formed by forming a conductive material layer which completely covers the grooves on the insulating layer, followed by polishing the conductive material layer by the CMP. The passivation layer is etched by the RIE and the etching stopper layer is etched by the RIE or CDE.
As the grooves are filled with the conductive material, the bonding pad and the uppermost wiring layer are formed at the same time.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same