A system for determining the shape of an object and/or a distance of the object from the system includes a first plurality of light source, a second plurality of light sources, and a detector or detector array. The first plurality of light sources are disposed about a central axis and are separated from the central axis by radial distances defining an aperture in the first plurality of light sources. The system also includes an optical system adapted to provide light from the second plurality of light sources through the aperture to the object. The system may further include a computer configured to determine the shape of the object and/or the distance of the object from the system using light from the first and second plurality of light sources that is reflected from the object and received by the detector.

1. Field
This invention pertains to the field of optical diagnostics, and in particular to methods and systems for measuring the shape and location of an object such as a cornea of an eye.
2. Description
Optical diagnostic systems provide information of an object without the necessity of physical contact. For example, surface topography or optical characteristics of an eye or ophthalmic lens may be obtained using any of a variety of optical techniques, including optical topography, optical coherence tomography, interferometry, aberrometry, and the like. In some instances, accurate measurements depend on knowing or moving the test object to a precise location.
In the field of ophthalmics, ocular aberrations of the eye typically produce unwanted results (bad eyesight) and therefore need to be characterized so as to be adequately treatable. Wavefront measurement systems and methods have been developed for measuring ocular aberrations of an eye. One class of such systems typically provide a probe beam to illuminate the eye and measure the wavefront of light refracted from the eye to measure the total aberrations of the eye.
Since typically 60-70% of ocular aberrations result from imperfections in the cornea, such wavefront measurements can be more valuable if the corneal topography of the eye is known. Topographical measurements of a cornea are typically performed by a corneal topographer. A variety of corneal topographers are known in the art, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,062,702 and 6,634,752, which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. It would be useful to provide a combined system for measuring total ocular aberrations and the corneal topography of an eye.
One type of corneal topographer employs a "Placido disk" system. A Placido disk system consists of a series of concentric illuminated rings that are reflected off the cornea of an eye and viewed with a detector array, such as a charge-coupled device or video camera. Other "Placido-type" light sources or systems use other shapes besides rings, for example, a plurality of point sources or relatively small spot sources may be configured in a predetermined pattern.
As used herein, the term "Placido-type light source" or "Placido-type source" means one or a plurality of individual light sources disposed such that light from each of the individual light sources reflects off of a reference or test object, passes through an imaging system, and is received by a detector, wherein light from the Placido-type light source passes only once through the imaging system, or the individual optical elements thereof, and is used to determine geometric and/or optical information of at least a portion of a surface of the reference or test object. The individual light sources may be active sources generating light energy, apertures through which light energy is transmitted, or lighter or more reflective portions of a mask or pattern configured to reflect light. As used herein, the terms "Placido disk" or "Placido disk system" means a system of Placido-type light sources configured as a plurality of rings or annular shapes.
Because of its great simplicity, the Placido disk system has been widely used for measuring corneal topography. A key part of this system is the object surface with rings as well as the spatial distribution and the width of these rings on the surface. The location and width of the rings are computed in such a way that the image of the rings reflected off a reference sphere is a uniform distribution of rings, i.e., rings equally spaced and all with the same width. The radius of curvature of the reference sphere is made equal to the mean radius of the cornea (about 7.8 mm). Then the image of the rings reflected off an aberrated cornea will be distorted rings, and from this distortion it is possible to obtain the shape of the cornea.
Many variations on the Placido disk approach for corneal topography measurements have been developed over the years, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,993,826 and 6,601,956, and by Yobani Meji'a-Barbosa et al., "Object surface for applying a modified Hartmann test to measure corneal topography," APPLIED OPTICS, Vol. 40, No. 31 (Nov. 1, 2001) ("Meji'a-Barbosa"), all three references being incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
One problem in many Placido disk corneal topographers is that the central region of the corneal surface cannot be detected during the measurement because of the need to provide an opening or aperture in the Placido disk for passing the light reflected from the cornea to the detector array. This is especially disadvantageous because the central optical zone of the cornea in particular determines the refractive power of the eye and typically forms the pass-through point of the visual axis. The so-called Stiles-Crawford effect leads to the consequence that the central corneal zone—which is free from any light patterns during the projection of patterns from a Placido disk—plays a special role with respect to the peripheral corneal regions of the eye's projection system. As the opening or aperture is increased in size, this problem is exacerbated.
Another problem with Placido disk corneal topographers is that the data is obtained from analysis of a series of projected rings. That is, a radial position of the detected ring is compared to a reference position and the comparison is used to determine the corneal shape. However, this only provides radial deviations. While these are azimuthally resolved, they do not provide an adequate measure of the "skew" rays, i.e., those rays which would be deflected in an azimuthal direction. This is an inherent limitation for a system using Placido rings. This limitation is especially significant considering that astigmatism, one of the major classes of ocular aberrations, is known to generate significant skew rays.
Yet another problem in Placido-type systems in general, as well as types of optical measurement system (e.g, wavefront aberrometers) is alignment error (i.e., "vertex error") between the corneal surface vertex and the design corneal vertex plane. More specifically, the instrument expects the cornea to be located at a particular location long the optical axis of the system with respect to the Placido disk light sources in order to make accurate calculations of the corneal topography. If an actual cornea being measured is "too close" or "too far" from the instrument, then there is a vertex error that will produce inaccurate corneal topography results, unless this vertex error can be determined and factored into the corneal topography calculations.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide optical measurement systems that can address one or more of these problems. It would also be desirable to provide a method of measuring aberrations and a corneal topography of an eye. It would further be desirable to provide a corneal topographer that allows the topography of the entire cornea to be characterized. It would still further be desirable to provide a method of determining vertex errors between a corneal topographer and a cornea being measured. It would even further be desirable to provide a corneal topographer that produces a uniform grid of spots on the detector array when an idealized structure (e.g., a "reference cornea") is measured.
In one aspect of the invention, a system measures a corneal topography of an eye. The system includes a group of first light sources arranged around a central axis, the group being separated from the axis by a radial distance defining an aperture in the group; a plurality of second light sources; a detector array; and an optical system adapted to provide light from the second light sources through the aperture to a cornea of an eye, and to provide images of the first light sources and images of the second light sources from the cornea, through the aperture, to the detector array. The optical system includes an optical element having a focal length, f. The second light sources are disposed to be in an optical path approximately one focal length, f, away from the optical element.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of measuring aberrations and a corneal topography of an eye comprises: illuminating a cornea of an eye with light from a group of first light sources arranged around a central axis, the group being separated from the axis by a radial distance defining an aperture in the group; illuminating the cornea with light from a plurality of second light sources, the light passing through the aperture, the second light sources located at an optical infinity relative to the cornea; providing a probe beam through the aperture to a retina of the eye; providing images of the first light sources and images of the second light sources from the cornea through the aperture to a detector array; providing light from the probe beam scattered by the retina through the aperture to a wavefront sensor; determining the cornea topography from an output of the detector array; and determining aberrations of the eye from an output of the wavefront sensor.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of measuring a corneal topography of an eye comprises: illuminating a cornea of an eye with a group of first light sources arranged around a central axis, the group being separated from the axis by a radial distance defining an aperture in the group; projecting collimated light beams from a plurality of second light sources, through the aperture, to the cornea; providing images of the first light sources and images of the second light sources from the cornea through the opening in the principal surface to a detector array; and determining the cornea topography from an output of the detector array.
In still another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for determining a vertex alignment error for a corneal topographer comprising central light sources to sample a central region of the corneal surface, and a Placido-type light source array to sample an outer region of the corneal surface outside the central region. The method comprises: measuring, using the central light sources, a curvature in an outer portion of the central region of the corneal surface, adjacent the outer region of the corneal surface; measuring reflection locations from the cornea of an innermost set of light sources of the Placido-type light source array; using the measured curvature of the outer portion of the central region of the corneal surface and the measured reflection locations from the cornea of the innermost set of light sources of the Placido-type light source array to calculate a vertex alignment error for each of the innermost set of light sources of the Placido-type light source; and determining the vertex alignment error for the corneal topographer from the calculated vertex alignment error for each of the innermost set of light sources of the Placido-type light source.
In a further aspect of the invention, a system for measuring a topography of a reflective surface, comprises: an optical element disposed about an optical axis and comprising an object side, the optical element defining an object space located on the object side a finite distance from the optical element and an image space conjugate the object space; at least one first light sources disposed an optically finite distance from the object space and at least one second light source disposed at an optical infinity with respect to the object space; the optical element configured to provide an image within the image space when a reflective surface is disposed within the object space.
In still a further aspect of the invention, a system for measuring a topography of a reflective surface, comprises: an optical element having a focal length and disposed about an optical axis, the optical element comprising an object side and an image side, the optical element defining an object space located on the object side a finite distance from the optical element and an image space located on the image side that is conjugate the object space; at least one first light source disposed an optically finite distance from the object space, and at least one second light source disposed on the image side, the second light source located along an optical path approximately one focal length away from the optical element; the optical element configured to provide an image within the image space when a reflective surface is disposed within the object space.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a system for determining the shape of an object under examination and/or a distance of the object from the system includes a first light source, a second light source, and a detector or detector array. When a surface of a object is illuminated by light from the first and second light sources, (1) the first light source produces a signal at the detector array that depends on a shape of the surface of the object and on a distance of the object from the system, and (2) the second light source produces a signal at the detector array that depends on a shape of the surface of the object and that does not depend on a distance of the object from the system. In certain embodiments, the first light source, second light source, and the detector array are disposed for calculating a distance of the object from the system. Additionally or alternatively, the first light source, second light source, and the detector array are disposed for calculating a shape of the surface of the object. In certain embodiments, the first light source comprise plurality of individual light sources that are disposed about a central axis and are separated from the central axis by radial distances defining an aperture in the first plurality of light sources. The system may also include an optical system adapted to provide light from the second plurality of light sources through the aperture to the object. The system may further include a computer configured to determine the shape of the object and/or the distance of the object from the system using light from the first and second light sources that is reflected from the object and received by the detector.
In another aspect of the invention, a system for measuring a corneal topography of an eye comprises a plurality of light sources disposed about a central axis, a detector array, and an optical system. The light sources are separated from the central axis by radial distances defining an aperture in the plurality. The optical system includes an optical element disposed such that, when the test object is disposed to reflect light from the light sources, light from the plurality of light sources reflects off the test object, passes a time through the optical element, and is received by the detector array to form a plurality of images. Each image of the plurality of images corresponds to one light source of the plurality of light sources, the plurality of images including a first image, a second image, and a third image. The images form a uniform grid pattern when the test object is a sphere having a predetermined radius of curvature. The plurality of light sources are disposed such that the first image, the second image, and the third image each have a different amount of defocus than the other images.

Systems and methods for measuring the shape and location of an object


A method for fabricating a CMOS device on a SOI, comprising the steps of: providing a SOI wafer having a stack structure of a base substrate, a buried oxide layer and a semiconductor layer; forming a field oxide film in the semiconductor layer to define an active region in which a PMOS device and a NMOS device are to be formed in the semiconductor layer of the SOI wafer, wherein the field oxide film is formed by performing thermal oxidation process so as to apply a compressive stress to the semiconductor layer that the PMOS device is to be formed; and forming the PMOS device and NMOS device in the active region defined by the field oxide film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device using a SOI(silicon on insulator) wafer, and more particularly to a method for fabricating a CMOS device capable of increasing hole mobility in a PMOS device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the fast development in semiconductor device industry, a semiconductor device using the SOI wafer instead of a single crystalline silicon wafer made of bulk silicon, has been proposed. A semiconductor device formed in the SOI wafer (hereinafter, SOI device) compared to that formed in the single crystalline silicon wafer, has advantages that a high speed due to a low junction capacitance, and driving voltage in reduction due to a low threshold voltage and latch-up prevention due to a complete isolation.
The SOI wafer has a stack structure of a base substrate as a means for supporting, a buried oxide layer disposed on the base substrate, and a semiconductor layer in which a device is formed and disposed on the buried oxide layer. Herein, the semiconductor layer should have a uniform thickness and more preferably has a thickness below 100 nm so that the device formed in the SOI wafer has the foregoing advantages.
On the other hand, in the CMOS device that is comprised of a NMOS device and a PMOS device, the hole mobility in the PMOS device is generally lower than the electron mobility in the NMOS device. That means, the CMOS device formed in the SOI wafer may not have good property owing to the PMOS device having relatively poor carrier mobility. Accordingly, it should be required to increase the hole mobility in the PMOS device in order for the CMOS formed in the SOI wafer to have good property.
There is taught in IEEE trans. Electron Device, vol., 39, p. 2665,1992, M. Roser, S. R. Clayton, P. R. de la Houssaye and G. A. Garcia, Hole-mobility in fully depleted thin-layer SOS MOSFETs that the hole mobility is increased when the compressive which is a stress type existing in the semiconductor layer of the CMOS formed on the SOI wafer.
FIG. 1 is a graph showing the hole mobility vs. the gate voltage based on the compressive stress applied to the semiconductor layer in the PMOS transistor formed on the SOI wafer. In the drawing, A signifies the case where the compressive stress within the semiconductor layer is relatively small and B signifies the case where the compressive stress within the semiconductor layer is relatively great.
As shown in the drawing, the maximum hole mobility is obtained at gate voltage of -1.0V when the compressive stress in the semiconductor layer is great, i.e. in case of B. As a result, it is obvious that the hole mobility is increased when the compressive stress in the semiconductor layer is great.
Therefore, it is required to increase the hole mobility in the PMOS device so as to improve the property of CMOS device formed in the SOI wafer, and the semiconductor layer acting as a body in the PMOS device should be affected by the compressive stress so as to increase the hole mobility in the PMOS device.

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A semiconductor light emitting structure including an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer and an active layer is provided. The active layer disposed between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer is a multi-quantum well structure consisting of well layers and barrier layers interlaced and stacked to each other. The well layers near the n-type semiconductor layer at least include a first well layer having a first thickness, and the well layers near the p-type semiconductor layer at least include a second well layer having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness, so that the ability to restrict electrons within the area of the active layer near the n-type semiconductor layer is increased, and the conversion efficiency of the active layer is enhanced. There is a differential Δd1 between the first thickness and the second thickness, wherein 0 nm<Δd1≦10 nm.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a semiconductor light emitting structure, and more particularly to a semiconductor light emitting structure with better electron restricting ability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light emitting structure which emits a light by converting electric energy into photo energy. Conventional LED includes an epitaxy stacking structure and an upper electrode layer and a lower electrode layer respectively disposed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the epitaxy stacking structure. When electricity is provided to the upper and the lower electrode layer of the LED, the current flows through the epitaxy stacking structure, which releases energy in the form of a light when electrons and electron holes are combined.
The epitaxy stacking structure forms a first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer by organic metal chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method. Then, a donor and an acceptor are respectively doped into the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer to form an n-type semiconductor layer carrying negative charges and a p-type semiconductor layer carrying positive charges, so that the LED can transmit currents through the conduction of electrons or electron holes.
In addition, the conventional LED includes an electron blocking layer formed by AlXGa(1-X)N semiconductor material having high energy gap and used for blocking and restricting electrons to be within the active layer, wherein 0≦x≦1. However, when the electron blocking layer is too thick or the Al content of the AlXGa(1-X)N compound is too high, the series resistance of the epitaxy stacking structure will be too high, and a higher bias is required for driving the LED. Besides, the AlXGa(1-X)N semiconductor material has a higher energy gap, making electron holes hard to cross over the electron blocking layer and be transmitted to the active layer. Therefore, the conversion efficiency of the active layer is relatively reduced, and the luminous uniformity of the light emitted by the active layer is poor and needs to be improved.


A computer-implemented method and apparatus are disclosed for use in the capture, compilation, production and delivery of integrated educational and/or training programs in digital form. A wide range of alternative structures and acts are described to illustrate the adaptability of the invention, including a comprehensive disclosure of the prototype system used to create and deliver a fully accredited, four-unit course on the law of Commercial Torts.

The present invention relates to computer-based educational technology and, in particular to a method and apparatus for the production and integrated delivery of educational content in digital form.
It has long been the objective of educators and educational technologists to incorporate information processing and communication technologies into the teaching process with a view toward enhancing the transfer of knowledge in terms of both effectiveness and efficiency. Within the classroom, prior teaching technology has ranged: (a) from the use of chalk boards to optical and digital display and projection devices; (b) from the presentation of live lectures to the supplemental use of televised and prerecorded video productions; and, (c) from the use of traditional paper-based texts, treatises, workbooks and tests to computer-based reading, research, exercises and testing.
Particularly in the areas of higher education and specialized training, significant efforts have been directed toward the use of technology in the presentation of courses: (a) that are attended by large numbers of students; (b) that are inherently complex or otherwise benefit from extensive supplementation; or (c) that are presented repeatedly to different individuals or small groups of learners at different times. Also, in the areas of higher and continuing education and in corporate training, substantial efforts have been made toward the decentralization of the teaching process with the objective of making quality education available to more students, at more convenient locations and times, and at a lower incremental cost to the sponsoring organization.
A small minority of academically accredited courses have been offered by means of a videotaped lecture coupled with traditional reading assignments. These courses have had the advantage of allowing students to learn at a time and pace most appropriate to their individual styles and schedules. Videotape has also been used to back up and preserve live educational simulcasts to students enrolled in television-based courses offered on a synchronous or real-time basis. Videotaped lectures make the content available to students unable to attend at specifically scheduled times, and to students unable to learn at the pace adopted by the lecturer. Various combinations of televised simulcasts and videotaped presentations have represented the dominant use of technology in the delivery of traditional higher educational content.
There have been numerous attempts to move toward the asynchronous or time-shifted delivery of educational content in ways that would allow multiple learners to receive the content at virtually any time. Multiple videotape copies of lectures have been made available for viewing by students at any time and this simple methodology has proven to be among the most effective and least expensive. Unfortunately, this requires the production of large numbers of videotape copies for shared use by students and even more if every enrolled student is to receive a copy. Videotape copies degrade with repeated use and serial reproduction. In addition, the shared use of videotape copies requires the availability of multiple televisions and videotape players that require ongoing maintenance and are relatively expensive considering that they are used in educational institutions as single-function devices. Further, it is practically impossible to change, edit, supplement or update the educational content stored on multiple videotape copies without re-recording the lecture on each tape copy. Televised lectures are the content and presentation equivalent of videotaped lectures, except they must be offered to students on a synchronous basis. Unless a student makes a video recording of the transmitted lecture (further degrading the quality of any incorporated text or images), it is impossible to start, stop or otherwise control the rate at which the educational content is delivered and the student must xe2x80x9cattendxe2x80x9d the televised presentation on the precise schedule set by the lecturer or sponsoring institution.
Videotape and television media are acceptable for the delivery of the audio and video components of an educational or training presentation; however, they are generally inadequate for use in conveying related content in the form of textual, graphic, written, interactive or similar materials. For example, when a lecturer provides supplemental content by writing or drawing on a black (or white) board, this content, if it is to be recorded or transmitted at all, must be captured on videotape along with the lecture itself. At best this requires means for zooming in on the lecturer""s writing and produces an image that is low in quality and often hidden from immediate view by the lecturer""s hand. In any case, the resulting image produced through non-digital video recordation or television transmission is significantly degraded because of the inherently low-density visual character of these media.
Currently available methods for dealing with the foregoing problem have included the use of two video cameras. In one case a first camera is dedicated to capturing the actions, words and expressions of the lecturer while a second camera is focused close-in on the lecturer""s writings and serves to separately record these exemplifications of the lecture content. This methodology has a number of disadvantages. One involves problems in providing reliable synchronization of the two video cameras during play-back and another involves the allocation of screen resources between the lecturexe2x80x94which is continuousxe2x80x94and the lecturer""s written notations that are entered on a sporadic basis. These problems have been addressed through the post-production processing of the two videotapes to create a single continuous tape into which relevant segments from the second camera (focused on written entries) are incorporated at appropriate times as inserts into the lecture tape. In some cases, the lecture video is run on a split screen or the written entries are shown full screen while the lecture proceeds on an audio only (or voice-over) basis. While these post-production effort results in an improved simulation of an actual in-class experience, the recorded or televised quality of the written entries is often so low as to accommodate only relatively large format (low-content) entries and images without significant visual or textual detail.
Sophisticated systems (e.g., Media100) are available for use in producing and editing video lectures but their cost, limited availability and complexity of use have placed them beyond the realm of practical adoption by most teachers, professors and trainers. In addition, the inherent low-density character of analogue video recording and playback systems has limited the ability to incorporate educationally meaningful text and graphic materials into lectures presented on videotape.
The visualization problem caused by a lecturer""s hand being disposed between a second video camera and the board on which written entries are being made has been addressed by a number of products. One hardware/software package known as the xe2x80x9cEducartxe2x80x9d (by Tegrity, Inc of San Jose, Calif.) involves a relatively complex, two-camera optical system described in part in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,263. This and similar products recently on the market are typically used to record short training segments which are augmented by standard Power Point (by Microsoft, Inc.) or similar slide presentations that are prepared prior to the actual lecture. These presentation slides are often used by the lecturer as a prompt (or outline) of the content to be presented. While these slides also provide the audience with an outline of the presentation content, they typically do not educationally supplement the content except by illustrating it""s structure and order. Other currently available products for combining videos with Power Point or similar slide presentations are marketed under the names xe2x80x9cReal Slide Showxe2x80x9d, Real Presenterxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cReal Producerxe2x80x9d offered by RealNetworks, Inc. These products include an audio and video compression system that allows for replay over intermediate speed network connections.
Another method currently in use combines the video taped image of a lecturer making an informational presentation with an inserted transcription of the lecturer""s spoken words displayed to the viewer on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis during play back, rather than in in short, segmented versions as seen in the case of close captioned broadcasts and translated video presentations. This form of verbatim textual supplementation provides no educational or content enhancement beyond what is offered in the lecture itself. Another method, which actually constitutes prior art, incorporates a still image of a lecturer together with a voice-over commentary relating to the educational content presented on the screen observed by the learner. One version of this method is described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,614.
While the current efforts to develop and deliver xe2x80x9cdistance educationxe2x80x9d on an asynchronous basis do provide some approximation of a face-to-face teaching experience, they do virtually nothing to enable the enhancement of that experience from an educational perspective; nor do they meaningfully enable the efficient integration of illustrative, explanatory, analytical, experimental, testing or other supplemental content which substantively expands and enriches the learning experience.
Major efforts are currently underway to further develop and expand broadband systems for the delivery of digitized video on a xe2x80x9cstreamingxe2x80x9d basis to multiple students with access to high speed Internet or Intranet connections. While these efforts have resulted in a highly developed infrastructure for the asynchronous and on-demand delivery of audio/visual works (primarily entertainment), this delivery infrastructure itself can do nothing to develop or enhance the transmitted content.
Current and planned uses of streaming video in higher education and specialized training involve little more than the digitization of video lectures for later viewing. This has been done on the same basis previously described. One sophisticated research institution is in the process of spending tens of millions of dollars to implement this model by constructing specialty lecture halls and related student viewing facilities to annually present, record and re-record lectures for real time or delayed viewing by enrolled students. Such enhanced delivery systems do (at a very substantial cost) eliminate the need for the distribution of videotape copies or the use of television transmission facilities. This improved mode of delivery also enables reception of educational content (by streaming video) on personal computers, rather than televisions or video cassette players. Unfortunately, it does nothing to enable the enhancement of the educational program content beyond the classroom lecture itself.
The principal objective of the present invention is to enable the efficient and inexpensive production and delivery of substantively enhanced educational programs, which incorporate and are built upon traditional high-content lecture presentations or training demonstrations. It is also an objective to provide a simple, technology-implemented system that can be easily used by lecturers, teachers and trainers without on-going aid from a computer or software specialist. Further objectives include the provision of a method and apparatus that will enable: (a) the simple incorporation of a wide range of audio, video, textual, graphic, written, testing, experimental and automated content (all in digital form) into the program to meaningfully illustrate, exemplify, supplement, demonstrate or test understanding of the educational content; (b) the ability to deliver the educational program asynchronously to large numbers of enrolled students by means of network connections or encrypted/activated CDs or DVDs; (c) the convenient updating and revision of the lecture and supplemental content incorporated into the educational presentation for immediate release to students; (d) the on-screen display of individual student notes which can be stored or transmitted at the end of each program session; (e) the incorporation of testing, evaluation, demonstrative and interactive components at predetermined points during the educational program; and, (f) the utilization of proven educational materials and techniques which cannot conveniently or efficiency be incorporated into a traditional live or video-recorded lecture presentation.
The present invention is the culmination of over twelve years of research, testing and statistical analysis of educational materials technology-enhanced teaching methodologies. The embodiment of the invention as described herein was and tested through the development and delivery of a fully accredited four-unit course entitled xe2x80x9cCommercial Torts.xe2x80x9d This course had an enrollment of fifty-seven law students and was presented at the Arizona State University College of Law during the Fall Term (August-December) of the year 2000. The presentation of this prototype course served to demonstrate the invention""s functionality, ease of use, stability, adaptability and, most importantly, its effectiveness in achieving the improved and efficient transfer of complex functional knowledge to a group of critical and mature learners who expressed a significant level of satisfaction with the new learning process itself. Eighty-four percent of students who took the prototype on-line course expressed a preference for this method as compared to a traditional live lecture. This group of 57 students achieved an eight percent higher median level of academic performance as measured by a standardized (30 page, 625 point, 4 hour) examination when compared to an earlier group of 70 students who attended the identical lecture at the time it was delivered live.
The key aspects of the invention may be most effectively summarized in terms of the technical methodology by which the apparatus operates in the production, modification and delivery of an educational program in digital form. In this context, the following provides an overview and summary of the steps included in the improved method and its related features:
(a) Capture Educational Presentationxe2x80x94Capturing and storing as digital performance files the sounds, actions and events produced by at least one person involved in the rendition of an educational or training presentation over one or more periods of time;
(b) Compile Content Filesxe2x80x94Compiling and storing as digital content files a plurality of informational expressions related in subject matter to defined time segments of said educational presentation;
(c) Generate Multi-Frame Screenxe2x80x94Generating a screen having multiple predetermined and functionally independent frames including
(i) a first frame for receiving and displaying selected time-based performance files depicting the educational presentation and
(ii) supplemental frames for independently receiving and displaying selected content files in a defined order and in defined synchronization relative to the time-based display of said educational presentation in said first frame;
(d) Integrate Contentxe2x80x94Displaying at least one performance file within said first frame while entering selected content files (in the defined order and synchronization) for display within selected supplemental frames of the screen;
(e) Generate Scriptxe2x80x94Generating and storing as digitally readable script files, time-based records of when each content file is displayed in each supplemental frame in chronological relation to the time-based display of at least one performance file in said first frame;
(f) Preview Contentxe2x80x94Optionally repeating all or portions of step (d) in sequential response to the digitally readable script files to preview the educational program in the form produced for synchronized delivery to users;
(g) Deliver Contentxe2x80x94Repeating all or portions of step (d) in sequential response to the digitally readable script files and in controlled response to a set of predetermined commands from at least one independent user viewing said frames and their content within a separately generated screen;
(h) Display User Notesxe2x80x94Optionally displaying individual content in an additional frame within said screen as the content is generated by an independent user during a repetition of step (d);
(i) Modify Contentxe2x80x94Optionally repeating steps (d) and (e) while inserting, deleting or changing selected performance or content files and generating corresponding script files for use in incorporating such modifications into the educational program for subsequent delivery to users.

Method and apparatus for the production and integrated delivery of educational content in digital form


Provided are: eushearilides; a method for producing eushearilides; a production intermediate; and a pharmaceutical composition containing eushearilides. By having the Wittig reaction process, Mukaiyama Aldol reaction process and Macrolactonizaion process serve as key processes, eushearilides represented by formula (I) are efficiently produced.

Eushearilide is a natural macrolide, which was isolated in 2006 from one of the species of blue mold, Eupenicillium shearii IMF54447, has promising potential for application in the field of medicine (Nonpatent Document 1).
To date, the structure of eushearilide has been disclosed putatively in the above Nonpatent Document 1. The above document discloses that eushearilide has a 24-membered ring macrolide which has olefin portions at two positions and asymmetric carbon atoms at two positions, and also have a characteristic structure not seen in other macrolide compounds. However, the exact three dimensional structure thereof is yet to be elucidated.
An example of the total synthesis of a eushearilide analog is known (Nonpatent Document 2). Nonetheless, an efficient and large-scale method of manufacturing eushearilide and a derivative thereof is further demanded for physiological studies. Moreover, there have been demands for providing various eushearilide derivatives to facilitate medicine research in which eushearilide is used as a lead compound.    Non-Patent Document 1: T. Hosoe, K. Fukushima, K. Takizawa, T. Itabashi, N. Kawahara, V. Vidotto, K. Kawai, The Journal of Antibiotics, 2006, vol. 59, 597-600.    Non-Patent Document 2: T. Yamauchi, J. Takidaira, K. Okamoto, T. Sugiura, H. Horikoshi, S. Kudo, S. Sasaki, N. Mizushima, K. Higashiyama, Heterocycles, 2014, vol. 88, 1175-1189.


A technique for reporting faults of a base station in a digital cellular system, includes: a base station management unit having a table storing information of predetermined faults; and a base station including multiple devices, which detects the faults of the devices and reports addresses for accessing relevant fault messages of the table to the base station management unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a technique for reporting faults of a base station of a digital cellular system to an upper base station management unit. Specifically, this invention is a technique for reporting the faults of the base station with a message whose length is reduced.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital cellular system, which is a code division multiple access communication system, is composed of a base station subsystem (BSS), a mobile switching center (MSC), and a home location register (HLR). A BSS consists of a base station management unit (BSM), multiple base station controllers (BSC), and multiple base station transceiver subsystems (BTS).
The system contains one BSM which is composed of work stations. BSM loads a call control processor (CCP). The BBS is equipped with a maximum of twelve CCPs. One CCP can load a maximum of thirty-two selector interface processors (SIP) and a maximum of sixteen BTS control processors (BCP). The BSS is equipped with a maximum of three hundred eighty four SIPs. One SIP can load a maximum of four selector vocoder processors (SVP). The BSS is equipped with a maximum of one hundred ninety two BCPs. One PCP loads a maximum of twenty four control interworking processors (CIP), one BTS test processor (BTP), six pairs of transceiver interface processors (TIP), and one pair of time and frequency processors (TFP).
Each BTS of the digital cellular system has a function of reporting the faults of its own devices to the BSM. There are 130 kinds of faults which can occur in a BTS. There are 11280 kinds of faults, when considering which device has what kind of a fault. The number of devices where 120 kinds of faults can occur is 30. The number of devices where the remaining 10 kinds of faults can occur is 768. Therefore, the following formula is established. 120.times.30+10.times.768=11280. The numbers 120 and 10 indicate the number of kinds of faults, and numbers 30 and 768 indicate the number of devices which are called locations.
A fault message which the BTS sends to the BSM is composed of 9 bytes. Four bytes of nine bytes indicate a kind of the fault, and another four bytes indicate a location. The remaining one byte indicates a state of a fault. When it is assumed that all cases of the faults which can occur in one BTS occur, a total length of the fault messages sent to the BSM is 101520 bytes (812160 bits). That is, 9.times.11280=101520.
This messages indicating faults of the BTS cannot all be sent to the BSM at one time because the length of the messages is limited to 128 bytes when the BTS communicates with BSM, and the data area is limited to 112 bytes. Therefore, when it is assumed that all cases of the faults which can .occur in one BTS occur, the BTS must send the messages to the BSM about 907 (=101520/112) times. It takes a long time to inform the BSM of faults of the BTS so that it also takes a long time to process the faults.
The following patents each disclose features in common with the present invention but do not teach or suggest the specifically recited technique for reporting faults of the base station with a reduced message length as in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,189 to Savage, entitled Boundary Scan System With Improved Error Reporting Using Sentinel Bit Patterns, U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,516 to Yemini et al., entitled Apparatus And Method For Event Correlation And Problem Reporting, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,247 to Dow et al., entitled Fault Identification System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,944 to Yoshida, entitled Fault Indication System In A Centralized Monitoring System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,539 to Hershey et al., entitled Datagram Communication Service Over A Cellular Telephone Network, U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,024 to Lebowitz, entitled Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) Network Transmission System Incorporating Cellular Link Integrity Monitoring, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,753 to Weber, entitled Digital Communication System And A Primary Station For Use In Such A System.

Technique for reporting faults of base station of digital cellular system


A motorcycle crash bar lift for lifting a motorcycle using a rotating crash bar having a bottom side, a top side, a left side and a right side. A mounting collar is connected to the crash bar bottom side. A mating gear is connected to the mounting collar and is rotatably connectable to a conventional motorcycle frame. A worm gear is in meshing contact with the mating gear, for driving the mating gear to rotate the mounting collar to rotate the crash bar to lift a conventional motorcycle. The worm gear is rotatably connectable to the conventional motorcycle frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiment of the invention relates to a motorcycle crash bar lift for use in connection with motorcycle crash bars. The motorcycle crash bar lift has particular utility in connection with a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Motorcycle crash bar lifts are desirable for providing the functions of both a crash bar and in the event the motorcycle falls over can be used as a lift. A need was felt for a crash bar that had the added feature of being pivotal and gear driven for lifting a fallen motorcycle.
The use of motorcycle crash bars is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,126 to Yaple discloses a powered motorcycle lift/stand assembly having a ground-contacting lower stand unit rotatable about an axis on an upper stand unit. Parking is accomplished by rotation of said lower stand into said ground-contacting position, followed by downward pivoting of said upper stand unit, thereby raising said rear end of said motorcycle. The stand is raised by reversing the sequence. Ground contacting area, stand width, and stability are increased while simultaneously retaining maximum road clearance. However, the Yaple '126 patent does not have a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,890 to Vertucci discloses a combination leg shield and crash bar for motorcyles, allowing for stability and safety of riding, free movement of the legs, yet providing protection for the rider from wind, rain, mud, water, cold, insects. The leg shield is mounted in combination with the crash bar by means of clamps and is aesthetically pleasing. However, the Vertucci '890 patent does not have a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,265 to Yaple discloses a motorcycle lift stand and actuator that comprises upper and lower stand units on each side of the motorcycle. This configuration enables independent raising of the motorcycle when resting on either side, as well as providing a normal parking function. Also disclosed is an improved linear actuator comprising a plurality of concentric telescoping members. Two embodiments of single groove ball return elements are disclosed. However, the Yaple '265 patent does not have a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.
Yet further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,402 to Soo Hoo discloses a two wheel motorized vehicle side wheel outrigger assembly for each side of a motorcycle, includes an arm pivotally connected to a mounting plate which in turn is attached rigidly to the frame of the vehicle. A strut is fixed to the arm and extends outwardly and rearwardly therefrom for supporting rotatably a wheel mounted at the outer end thereof. A piston cylinder assembly has a piston rod pivotally connected to the arm for latching releasably the arm to connect rigidly and releasably and the wheel in position for adding stability to the vehicle. A bypass conduit connects the interiors of the cylinder housing between the opposite sides of the piston head for enabling the piston head to move within the cylinder during normal operation of the vehicle to permit in turn the wheel to follow freely the contours of the ground and to absorb impacts encountered by the wheel. A valve is connected in fluid communication with the conduit for interrupting selectively the fluid communication between opposite sides of the cylinder assembly to prevent the wheel and its strut from moving relative to the mounting plate, thereby rendering the side wheel assembly to become rigid. The side wheel assemblies are adapted to fold upwardly and inwardly when not in use. However, the Soo Hoo '402 patent does not have a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.
Further still, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 244,519 to Larsen et al. discloses a motorcycle safety bar. However, the Larsen et al. '519 patent does not have a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,528 to Kelly discloses a stabilizing device which prevents a motorcycle from tipping over. The device is mounted on the lower portion of a motorcycle and includes a member which pivots about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle. The lower portion of the pivotal member extends outwardly from beneath the motorcycle away from either side of the motorcycle. Stops in the stabilizing device prevent the pivotal member from rotating more than a certain number of degrees relative to the motorcycle. The stabilizing device includes an outrigger wheel assemblies attached to the lower outermost extremities of the pivotal member. Each of the outrigger wheel assemblies includes a platform which receives the motorcyclists feet and a caster mounted wheel which will pivot and follow the direction of motion of the motorcycle whenever the wheel contacts the ground surface. However, the Kelly '528 patent does not have a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a motorcycle crash bar lift that allows a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle. The Yaple '126, Vertucci '890, Yaple '265, Soo Hoo '402, Larsen et al. '519 and Kelly '528 patents make no provision a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved motorcycle crash bar lift which can be used for a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle. In this regard, the present embodiment of the invention substantially fulfills this need.
In this respect, the motorcycle crash bar lift according to the present embodiment of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of a gear driven pivotal crash bar capable of lifting a fallen motorcycle.


A novel current mirror is taught which provides improved input voltage headroom. The current mirror provides for the ratioed current mirroring of an input current supplied by a current source while providing an increased voltage level to that current source as compared with prior art current mirrors. This provides a significant improvement over prior art current mirrors which are likely to provide an insufficiently high voltage level to the current source to allow its proper operation, particularly with the trend toward lower supply voltages.

This invention pertains to electronic circuits and more particularly to current mirror circuits suitable for use at low power supply voltages. More specifically, this invention pertains to current mirrors suitable for use at power supply voltages below 3 volts while avoiding the need for complex circuit design techniques and the attendant limitations previously required with respect to the circuits providing the current to be mirrored.

Current mirror with improved input voltage headroom


A method of generating a free-form surface includes calculating cross boundary derivatives on all the boundary curves forming a face, and storing the results in a memory device (STEP 1), determining whether the cross boundary derivatives calculated at STEP 1 are all polynomials or not, and if there is a rational function, go to STEP 3, if they are all polynomials, go to STEP 4 (STEP 2), creating the control points of a rational surface by using the cross boundary derivatives (STEP 3), and creating the control points of a polynomial surface by using the cross boundary derivatives (STEP 4).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method for generating free-form surfaces, and, particularly, relates to a free-form surface generation method used in a 3D object shape processor. This invention can be applied to a free-form surface generation for a 3D shape which is defined by curve mesh.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In shape design by the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems, one of the most important requirements is the capability to easily design a shape of complex free-form surfaces. When designing a shape of free-form surfaces, a designer may wish to have a CAD system having functions, for defining free-form surfaces, which are suitable for the design method to be used, are easy to use, and can be manipulated intuitively. Generally, a straight forward method of defining free-form surfaces may be to input the data of characteristic lines which define cross section lines and surface boundaries. In using those methods, the designer first defines curve mesh representing surface boundaries, then, interpolate free-form surfaces into the curve mesh. Unfortunately, the generated curve mesh can only roughly represent the intended shape. Nevertheless, when the curve mesh is interpolated, the resulting free-form surfaces must have the same shape as intended by the designer.
In general, curve mesh are comprised of various types of curves like the Bezier curve and the NURBS (nonuniform rational B-splines) curve. Also, irregular curve mesh, which has the faces of non-quadrilateral shape like a triangle and pentagon, may appear, depending on the shapes being designed. It is required that such curve mesh as comprised of various types of curves and/or as including some irregular faces be also interpolated by the free-form surfaces having the shape intended by the designer.
The Gregory patch and the rational boundary Gregory patch can be named as a typical representation of the free-form surface for smoothly interpolating irregular curve mesh. By the use of those free-form surface representations, irregular curve mesh having triangular or pentagonal faces can be interpolated with G.sup.1 continuity. However, since boundary curves can only be represented by the Bezier curve or a rational Bezier curve in those free-form surface representations, such composite curves as the NURBS curve cannot be used for boundaries.
Although the Gregory patch and the rational boundary Gregory patch can interpolate irregular curve mesh with G.sup.1 continuity, in the case of interpolating a non-quadrilateral face, interior curves for dividing the face are generated during the process of interpolation. These interior curves divide the non-quadrilateral face into more than one quadrilateral faces, which are then interpolated with the Gregory patch or the rational boundary Gregory patch. If each boundary curve of a quadrilateral face cannot be represented by the Bezier curve or the rational Bezier curve, this face is regarded as non-quadrilateral rather than quadrilateral, and interior curves are generated in the process of interpolation.
Composite curves appear, in particular, with cross sections produced by cutting free-form surfaces and with curve mesh including boundary curves for offset surfaces. Faces of such mesh are interpolated by a plurality of the Gregory patches, even if those faces are topologically a quadrilateral. Generation of interior curves is based on the shape of boundary curves, and a distortion may occur on the generated surfaces, depending on the shape of the boundary curves. In such a case, the resulting surface does not have the shape intended by the designer. In general, it is difficult to control the shape of interior curves by changing the shape of boundary curves.
On the other hand, for the NURBS surface, the existence of composite curves in curve mesh does not matter since boundary curves are represented by the NURBS curves. For the NURBS surface, however, it is difficult to interpolate irregular curve mesh smoothly. Furthermore, the continuity between surface patches depends on the knot vectors and control points. Thus, it is generally difficult to represent one surface by a set of patches with C.sup.n continuity.
As described above, there are prior arts for smoothly interpolating irregular curve mesh which does not have composite curves, and for smoothly interpolating regular curve mesh which has composite curves. It is difficult with prior arts, however, to interpolate free-form surfaces without any distortion into irregular curve mesh which has composite curves. Thus, there is a need for interpolating without any distortion irregular curve mesh which has composite curves.

Method for interpolating smooth free-form surfaces into curve mesh including composite curves


The same size casing is used for interior air blowers of a combination air conditioning and heater interior unit disposed in left- and right-hand drive vehicles, respectively. A casing width is made nearly constant from a start-of-winding position to an end-of-winding position. An approximately central fan datum line which passes through a fan is offset to a suction port side with respect to a casing datum line which passes through an approximately central part of a portion of the casing parallel to a blower rotational axis. A flange portion of a motor holder is located at a position offset to one side (suction port side) along the rotational axis rather than an opposite side along the same direction in the casing. By replacement of impression cores it is possible to manufacture the casings for right- and left-hand drive vehicles, respectively.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-126518, filed on Apr. 24, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blower for blowing air within a vehicle passenger compartment, and more specifically, it relates to a blower for an air conditioner and heater arrangement.
2. Description of Related Art
A blower adopted in an air conditioner for a vehicle is required to be small in size and have a large air blowing capacity. Because of this, there usually is a centrifugal fan in which gas passes radially through an impeller (see JIS B 0132 No. 1004).
In a centrifugal fan (hereinafter referred to simply as xe2x80x9cfanxe2x80x9d), a fan is received within such a scroll casing (simply xe2x80x9ccasingxe2x80x9d hereinafter) which is designed to gradually increase in cross-sectional area of passage from a start-of-winding position toward an end-of-winding position. However, since air (a main flow of air) blown from the fan is offset to a side opposite to a suction port, there is proposed a casing wherein the side (electric motor side) opposite to the suction port is enlarged in a spiral fashion so as to project to a greater extent gradually from a start-of-winding position toward an end-of-winding position.
In the casing thus proposed, however, since the shape of the suction port side and that of the electric motor side are markedly different from each other, it is difficult to use a blower (casing) in common for both blowers (casings) to be disposed on the left- and right-hand sides, respectively, of a vehicle.
On the other hand, if the size (cross section) of a casing portion parallel to an axis of rotation is made constant and the projecting portion on the side opposite to the suction port is omitted, it is necessary to make the diameter of the casing large (to an extent (angle) that the air passage is enlarged in a logarithmic spiral). This must be done in order to ensure a required cross-sectional area of air passage.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks and it is an object of the present invention to use a blower casing that is common for both blowers (casings) so that they can be disposed on the left- and right-hand sides, respectively, of a vehicle. This is accomplished while preventing the enlargement of the blower casing size.
For achieving the above-mentioned object, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blower for a vehicle, comprising a centrifugal fan which draws in air in a rotational axis direction and which blows air radially outwards, a scroll casing which houses the centrifugal fan therein and which constitutes a passage for the air to be blown from the centrifugal fan, and a drive means for rotating the centrifugal fan. The size of the scroll casing, parallel to the rotational axis direction of the scroll casing, is nearly constant from a start-of-winding position to an end-of-winding position in the scroll casing. A suction port is formed in a portion of the scroll casing corresponding to one end side along the rotational axis, while in a portion of the scroll casing corresponding to an opposite end side along the rotational axis the drive means is fixed to the scroll casing through a mounting member. A fan datum line which approximately passes through a middle part of the centrifugal fan in the rotational axis direction is offset to the suction port side with respect to a casing datum line. The casing datum line passes through an approximately middle part of the portion of the scroll casing which is parallel to the rotational axis. A flange portion of the mounting member faces the centrifugal fan and lies in a position offset to one end side of the scroll casing along the rotational axis rather than the opposite end side along the same direction.
According to this constitution, it is possible to prevent the shape of the suction port side of the scroll casing, and that of the drive means side, from becoming greatly different from each other, thus making it possible to use the scroll casing as a common casing for both blowers (scroll casings) and be disposed on the left- and right-hand sides, respectively, of the vehicle.
Further, since the fan datum line is offset to the suction port side with respect to the casing datum line and the flange portion lies in a position offset to one end of the scroll casing along the rotational axis rather than the opposite end along the same direction, there is formed a (projecting) space which is offset to the opposite end along the rotational axis direction with respect to the flange portion. Therefore, even if the size of the portion of the scroll casing parallel to the rotational axis is made nearly constant from the start-of-winding position to the end-of-winding position of the scroll casing, it is possible to ensure a sufficient cross-sectional area of air passage.
Thus, according to the above depiction, since it is not necessary to set large the diameter of the scroll casing for ensuring a sufficient cross-sectional area of air passage, it is possible to use the scroll casing for both blowers (scroll casings) to be disposed on the left- and right-sides, respectively, of the vehicle while preventing an increase in size of the scroll casing.
In a second aspect of the present invention it is preferable that the size (W) of the portion of the scroll casing parallel to the rotational axis be larger than 1.1 times and smaller than 1.6 times the size (h) of the portion of the centrifugal fan parallel to the rotational axis direction (CL). In a third aspect of the present invention, the distance (nose gap, NG) between a nose portion (No) of the scroll casing and the centrifugal fan should be smaller than 0.07 times the diameter (D) of the centrifugal fan.
If the size (W) of the portion of the scroll casing parallel to the rotational axis (CL) is enlarged, the cross-sectional area of air passage in the nose portion (No) becomes large and the flow of air becomes unstable, resulting in deterioration of the pressure and noise levels in the blower.
By setting the distance (NG) between the nose portion (No) and the centrifugal fan at the value shown in the above third aspect, it is possible to improve the blower performance and reduce the size of the scroll casing while preventing a deterioration in noise level of the blower.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided an air conditioner for a vehicle for conditioning air to be blown into a vehicle compartment, comprising an air conditioner casing, within which there flows air to be blown into the vehicle compartment, and a blower for making air flow within the air conditioner casing. The blower has a centrifugal fan which draws in air along the rotational axis and which blows air radially outwards. The blower also has a scroll casing which houses the centrifugal fan and which constitutes a passage for the air to be blown from the centrifugal fan. Additionally, there is a drive means for rotating the centrifugal fan, wherein the size (W) of a portion of the scroll casing parallel to the rotational axis (CL) is nearly constant from a start-of-winding position to an end-of-winding position in the scroll casing. A suction port is formed in a portion of the scroll casing corresponding to one end side along the rotational axis direction (CL), while in a portion of the scroll casing corresponding to an opposite end side along the rotational axis (CL) the drive means is fixed to the scroll casing through a mounting member. A fan datum line (CLf) which passes through an approximately middle part of the centrifugal fan along the rotational axis (CL) is offset to the suction port side with respect to a casing datum line (CLc) which passes through an approximately middle part of the portion of the scroll casing parallel to the rotational axis (CL). The mounting member has a flange portion which faces the centrifugal fan and lies in a position offset to one end side of the scroll casing along the rotational axis (CL) rather than the opposite end. Further, the air conditioner casing comprises common components (air inlet mode selector, heat exchanger, blow mode selector) for use common to various vehicle models and dedicated components (connection duct and scroll casing) for each individual vehicle model. The common and dedicated components being fabricated as separate components and thereafter being assembled together.
This construction representation permits easy fabrication of both air conditioner casings for right- and left-hand drive vehicles.
In a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a blower for a vehicle, comprising a centrifugal fan which draws in air along a rotational axis and which blows air radially outwards, a scroll casing which houses the centrifugal fan and which has a passage for air to be blown from the centrifugal fan, and a drive means for rotating the centrifugal fan. The size (W) of a portion of the scroll casing parallel to the rotational axis (CL) is nearly constant from a start-of-winding position to an end-of-winding position in the scroll casing, while first and second openings are formed, respectively, in a portion of the scroll casing corresponding to one end side of the centrifugal fan along the rotational axis (CL) and in a portion of the scroll casing corresponding to an opposite end side of the centrifugal fan along the same axis. Both openings being the same in shape, a bell mouth portion which constitutes an outer edge portion of a suction port is installed in the first opening, and the drive means is installed in the second opening through a mounting member.
According to this constitution, it is not necessary to differentiate the openings in shape with use of impression cores for manufacture which will be described later. Consequently, while attaining the reduction in mold cost for the manufacture of the scroll casing, it is possible to use the scroll casing for either blower (scroll casing) to be disposed on the left- and right-hand sides, respectively, of the vehicle.
In a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a scroll casing which houses a centrifugal fan and which has a first opening and a second opening formed in positions corresponding to one end side and an opposite end side, respectively, along a rotational axis of the centrifugal fan. The method entails a first impression core which forms a portion corresponding to the first opening and a second impression core which forms a portion corresponding to the second opening. The impression cores are removably mounted on a mold body and molten material is charged into the mold body in a mounted state of both impression cores to the mold body.
According to this constitution, by mere replacement of impression core it is possible to easily manufacture scroll casings for right- and left-hand drive vehicles. Consequently, it becomes possible for a scroll casing to be used for both blowers (scroll casings) to be disposed on the left- and right-hand sides, respectively, of a vehicle.
The above parenthesized numerals represent, as examples, correlations with descriptions in embodiments of the present invention. Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.


A device for generating sonic signal forms for limiting, preventing or regressing the growth of pathological tissue comprises an ultrasonic transmission system for transmitting sound waves, focussed on the tissue to be treated, by way of a coupling medium. An ultrasonic signal produced at the focus of the system comprises brief pulses having at least one rarefaction phase with a negative sonic pressure amplitude with a value greater than 2.times.10.sup.5 Pa. The ultrasonic signal is radiated with a carrier frequency exceeding 20 kHz, a sonic pulse duration T of less than 100 .mu.s and a pulse recurrence rate of less than 1/(5T). The device produces controlled cavitation in the tissue to be treated.

Surgical instruments and surgical methods, as well as methods of chemotherapy, and methods of, and instruments for, radiation therapy and hyperthermic treatment are known for the medical treatment of proliferating tissue, although methods of acoustic surgery for that purpose have not presently been widely accepted in clinical practice.
For acoustic surgery, a mechanically oscillated hollow metal pin, for example, is used as a therapeutic tool. Such an instrument is described for example, in DE-A-35 27 586, and analogous devices for the removal of tissue by ultrasonic surgery are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,219 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,363. The attainments of such mechano-acoustic methods, however, extend from the reversible scrambling of the cell contents to the disintegration to a great extent of membranes, mitochondria and cell nuclei.
Ultrasonic instruments and methods acting hyperthermically are known, for example, from DE-A-33 31 510, DE-A-33 00 121 and DE-A31 50 513. Nevertheless, these non-surgical instruments and methods, for the treatment of tissues, in particular proliferating tissues, in human beings and animals must presently be regarded as experimental. This is also the case in respect of the non-surgical acoustic systems which do not operate hyperthermically, for the treatment of proliferating tissues in human bodies. Treatment by means of a hyperthermically operating device is based upon the appreciation that tumors are killed at a temperature of say 42.5.degree. C. when maintained for a protracted period. Raising the temperature locally within the body presents difficulties, however, since the tissue is cooled by the perfusion of blood and comparatively protracted high sonic intensities are needed to bring about a substantial temperature rise. These high sonic intensities may, however, cause cavitations in, and consequential injury to, healthy tissue in front of the tumor.
But little information has been published in the field relating to methods of treating proliferating tissues, which are non-surgical and acoustic and do not act hyperthermically.
DE-A-35 44 344, for example, discloses a device for inhibiting the growth of new pathological forms in living organisms, in which blood vessels are thrombosed by means of focussed shock waves, a once-only positive pressure pulse being generated for this purpose. The following effects of shock waves on tissues are disclosed in the publication "Prog.app.Microcirc.", vol.12, pages 41 to 50, 1987: vasoconstriction, stasis in capillaries, microhaemorrhages, the emergence of macromolecules from venules, the formation of conglomerates in venules, haemorrhages and the formation of haematoma, the destruction of vascular walls, the destruction of lining cells and the issue of red blood cells from blood vessels. This publication is silent, however, as to the treatment of tumors.
During the 64th convention of Bavarian Surgeons in July 1987 at Bad Reichenhall, Wilmer, Delius and Brendel reported on the effect of shock waves on tumorous cells in vitro, with reference to the so-called "ratio of adoption". At the same venue, Goetz, Konigsberger, Conzen and Brendel reported on the effect of shock waves on tumor microcirculation and tumor growth in the case of Syrian golden hamsters. There were reports upon the following effects: microhaemorrhages, extravasation of macromolecules, intravascular thrombosing actions and temporary arteriole constrictions. Tumor colliquations were obtained by a repetitive treatment by means of series of shock waves.

Ultrasonic treatment of pathological tissue


A portable electronic apparatus including a casing having a connecting surface adapted to be connected to a connecting surface of an external apparatus; a control unit accommodated in the casing; a transmitting terminal provided on the connecting surface of the casing for transmitting data as an optical signal generated by the control unit; and a receiving terminal provided on the connecting surface of the casing for receiving data as an optical signal generated by the external apparatus. The transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal are positioned in symmetrical relationship to each other with respect to a center of the connecting surface of the casing. Accordingly, in carrying out data transfer by optical space communication between two portable electronic apparatuses of the same kind, the transmitting terminal of one of the portable electronic apparatuses can be easily aligned to the receiving terminal of the other portable electronic apparatus.

The present invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus such as a portable computer or a handy terminal adapted to carry out data transfer with an optical signal.
Conventionally, optical communication between two portable electronic apparatuses is carried out by using optical fibers and optical connectors for connecting the two portable electronic apparatuses to each other through the optical fibers. This system is suitable to cope with undue radiation. However, it has a disadvantage such that the optical connectors cannot be quickly connected together. As a technique for solving this problem, it is known to adopt optical space communication without using any optical fibers and optical connectors. In the optical space communication, it is only necessary to decide a direction of radiation of an optical signal, so that data transfer can be easily carried out.
In the optical space communication, however, it is necessary to transmit an optical signal to another apparatus located remote from a transmitting position to some extent. Therefore, an output of the optical signal must be enlarged, resulting in an increase in current consumption. Accordingly, this technique is not applicable to a portable electronic apparatus.

Portable electronic apparatus with optical inter-module communication